New Delhi: Three 12th-century antique idols stolen from Tamil Nadu temples will be repatriated from Australia following sustained efforts by the Idol Wing Criminal Investigation Department (CID), marking another breakthrough in the recovery of India’s stolen cultural heritage.
Australian authorities agreed to repatriate the idols during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia, Tamil Nadu Police said in a press release.
The idols will be returned to Tamil Nadu under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty framework before being handed over to their respective temples.
According to the Idol Wing CID, the agency has been making persistent efforts to trace and recover stolen idols, antiques, and cultural treasures smuggled abroad. Investigations revealed that several missing antique idols had been traced to prominent international institutions and auction houses, paving the way for their return.
The three idols being repatriated are linked to Crime No. 01/2016 registered at the Idol Wing CID Police Station.
The first is a metal Trident with an Auspicious Kali (Bhadrakali) idol measuring 46.0 cm x 29.0 cm x 16.6 cm. The idol is valued at approximately EUR 190,000 (around ₹2 crore).
The second is a stone idol of Nandhi (Sacred Bull) measuring 80.5 cm x 110.5 cm x 55.0 cm, belonging to Arulmigu Kailasanathar Temple at Kaduvankudi village in Thiruvarur district. It is valued at approximately USD 450,000 (around Rs 4 crore).
The third is a stone idol of Six-Headed Skandha-Karthikeya (Subramanya) measuring 130.0 cm x 110.0 cm x 40.0 cm, belonging to Arulmigu Naganathaswami Temple at Manambadi village in Kumbakonam taluk of Thanjavur district. Valued at approximately EUR 180,000 (around Rs 2 crore), the idol is being repatriated from the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
The Idol Wing CID said recovered idols are repatriated to Tamil Nadu through the MLAT mechanism before being handed over to the concerned temples.
The successful operation was appreciated by Additional Director General of Police D. Kalpana Nayak, Inspector General of Police Anil Kumar Giri, and Superintendent of Police M. Chandrasekaran of the Idol Wing CID.
Director General of Police and Head of Police Force Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal also appreciated the entire Idol Wing CID team and officials for their efforts in securing the return of the priceless cultural artefacts.
Meanwhile, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan expressed delight over Australia’s decision to repatriate the antiquities to Tamil Nadu.
In a post on X, he said: “The government’s sustained efforts to bring our cultural treasures back to the country are truly commendable. Since 2014, there has been remarkable momentum in the repatriation of antiquities, with more than 600 such artefacts returned to India, a highly appreciable achievement in safeguarding our civilisational legacy, reflecting a strong commitment to the vision of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi.”
