India to get over 1,400 ‘looted, trafficked’ antiquities of $10 million from US

Over 1,440 antiquities collectively valued at around USD 10 million will be returned to India. These pieces, including alleged antiquities of Subhash Kapoor and Nancy Wiener, were recovered after many investigations.
They were returned at a ceremony where Manish Kulhary from the Consulate General of India and Alexandra de Armas, Group Supervisor from the Homeland Security Investigation of New York Cultural Property, Art, and Antiquities Group were present, reported PTI, citing a statement by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr.
 
“We will continue to investigate the many trafficking networks that have targeted Indian cultural heritage,” Bragg was quoted.
The US will give back 1,440 antiquities worth around USD 10 million to the people of India, according to the statement cited by the report.
The returned antiquities will include pieces such as the Tanesar Mother Goddess carved from green-grey schist and trafficked from Tanesara-Mahadeva village in Rajasthan and a sandstone sculpture of a Celestial Dancer looted from a temple in Madhya Pradesh.

During Bragg’s term, the District Attorney’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit recovered more than 2,100 antiquities stolen from more than 30 countries, which were valued at almost USD 230 million, the report said. Around 1000 antiquities recovered earlier this year will be sent back in the coming months. The recovered 1000 antiquities included over 600 antiquities from India.
In the Mann ki Baat episode aired in September, PM Modi lauded US for returning ancient artefacts to India.

“During my visit to the US, the US government has returned around 300 ancient artefacts to India. US President Biden, very affectionately, showed me some of these artefacts in his private residence in Delaware. Returned artefacts are made of materials such as terracotta, stone, ivory, wood, copper and bronze. Many of these are four thousand years old,” PM Modi said.
“Many of these artefacts were taken out of the country through smuggling and other illegal means. This is a serious crime. In a way, it is like destroying our heritage. But I am very happy that in the last decade, many such artefacts and many of our ancient heritages, have been brought back home,” he added.