UK returns 12th century Buddha statue to India stolen nearly 60 years ago


New Delhi, Aug 15 (NIE): Stolen in 1961, a 12th-century bronze statue of Buddha was returned to India on Wednesday to commemorate its 72nd Independence Day by the London Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) at India House in London.

The statue returned by the Scotland Yard, is supposedly one of the 14 statues which were stolen 57 years back from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) museum in Nalanda.

“I am delighted to return this piece of history. This is an excellent example of the results that can come with close cooperation between law enforcement, trade and scholars,” said Met Police Detective Chief Inspector Sheila Stewart, at the handover ceremony, PTI reported.

The statue received by the Indian High Commissioner of UK YK Sinha was identified at a trade fair in March by Lynda Albertson of the Association for Research into Crimes Against Art (ARCA) and Vijay Kumar from the India Pride Project, who then alerted the police.

The statue has been dealt with many hands over the years. Once the dealer and the owner were made aware the sculpture was the same one that had been stolen from India, the Metropolitan Police said they cooperated with the Met’s Art and Antiques Unit and agreed for the piece to be returned to India.

Detective Constable Sophie Hayes of the Met’s Art and Antique Unit said no criminality by the current owner or the dealer who had been offering the stolen statue for sale.

Sinha described the homecoming of the statue as a “wonderful gesture” and highlighted the “multi-faceted cooperation” between two countries. “I hope it will now go back to where it originally belongs,” said Sinha.

Michael Ellis, UK Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, said, “This underlines how law enforcement and the London art market are working hand-in-hand to deliver positive cultural diplomacy to the world.”

  

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Comment on this article

  • Lionel Dsouza, Mangalore

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    NOW THEY DONT NEED INDIAN MONUMENTS...….INDIAM PM VISITS FREQUENTLY.....

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Bengaluru/Katapadi

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    Something is better than nothing

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dylan, Mangalore

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    Fine the British government returning the Buddha statue along with that they should also send Mallya,Modi free.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    Express News Service | New Delhi | Updated: April 20, 2016 1:45:08 pm

    I quote from the news: Chaaiwaala Government confirmed to Indian Supreme Court.

    A day after it told the Supreme Court that the Kohinoor diamond was neither “forcibly taken nor stolen” by British rulers, but given as a “gift” to East India Company by rulers of Punjab, the Centre on Tuesday said “it reiterates its resolve to make all possible efforts to bring back the Kohinoor diamond in an amicable manner”.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    TNN & Agencies : Updated: Apr 18, 2016, 21:55 IST


    Kohinoor diamond not stolen, gifted to UK: Centre tells Supreme Court.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Guru, Mangalore

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    Bishops and other leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania covered up child sexual abuse by more than 300 priests over a period of 70 years, persuading victims not to report the abuse and law enforcement not to investigate it...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh Narayan Poojary, Kundapura/Bengaluru

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    Although it was in London, still it was in safe hands. If it goes to India some one will definitely steal it, then police also can not even find it!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Arun, Mangalore

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    Gold, diamond, all precious things are looted from india. Will uk, the biggest looters in history return it ?

    DisAgree [4] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Tilak, London

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    This wasnt a loot by Her Majesty’s Govt but by some thief who stole it from and individual and was caught in the UK.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    Thank God no one gave credit to Mr. 56 ...

    DisAgree [7] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    How about returning our Vijay Mallya & Nirav Modi ...

    DisAgree [6] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sahil, Mangaluru

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    When UK will return our Vijaya Malya.?we all desperately waiting to invite him with KF blue strong.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    Return our Kohinoor.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwyn, Mangalore

    Wed, Aug 15 2018

    The UK returns 12th century Buddha statue to India stolen nearly 60 years ago but they can not return Vijay Mallya who looted Indian Treasure. What a joke......Modi what you say about this?????

    Hope this statue is original, not fake like BJP!!!!!!!

    DisAgree [6] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Stephen, Mangalore

    Wed, Aug 15 2018

    Give kohinoor back first

    DisAgree [5] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • JAYESH.S., KARKALA

    Wed, Aug 15 2018

    LONDON WHETHER IT IS BERMUDA TRIANGLE. EVERYTHING LAND IN LONDON..EITHER PEOPLE OR STATUE..STOLEN. WHY TAKEN SO LONG TO HANDOVER..LONG 60 YEARS. EAST INDIAN COMPANIES SHIPPED MANY THINGS FROM INDIA AND MADE INDIA PAUPPER. DUE TO MODIJI'S REGIME ONCE AGAIN ATTAIN GLORY. WHY NOT PEOPLE EARN LIVING BY STRAIGHT WAY.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rathan, Mangalore

    Wed, Aug 15 2018

    Which party was ruling in India in 1961? And which party brought it back?
    Any comments from chaddiless?

    DisAgree [13] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Orton, Mangalore

    Thu, Aug 16 2018

    Nice, The greatest achievement of Feku Govt. We see that should be the only thing achieved.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


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