US Returns 657 Stolen Antiquities Worth $14 Million to India, More Recoveries Underway
The United States has returned 657 antiquities valued at nearly USD 14 million to India, marking one of the largest recent repatriations of stolen cultural heritage and underscoring the scale of global smuggling networks that have targeted Indian temples and artefacts for decades.
The return was announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg , who said “more work remains to return stolen artefacts,” as investigations continue into international trafficking rings linked to Subhash Kapoor and Nancy Wiener . Authorities said the recovery forms part of a broader effort that has exposed how stolen Indian heritage entered global art markets through forged documentation and complex dealer networks.
The case traces back to a shocking theft in a remote Tamil Nadu village , where a temple priest discovered broken doors and missing idols . Within days, the stolen bronzes surfaced in a prestigious New York gallery, priced in millions . Investigators later identified Subhash Kapoor as the central figure behind the network, building an international empire on looted Indian antiquities.
The trail extended across Tamil Nadu, including the theft of Chola dynasty bronzes from Shripuranthan . These priceless works were smuggled abroad while local temples remained unprotected. India’s IDOL WING police , despite limited resources, pursued the case, with DSP Selvaraj playing a key role in uncovering the network. His investigation revealed Chennai dealer Sanjeevi Ashokan acted as a crucial intermediary between local thieves and Kapoor’s global clientele.
Kapoor had earlier established his gallery Art of the Past in New York , using it to cultivate ties with museums and elite collectors while laundering stolen idols through fabricated provenance records. The network relied on disguising shipments as furniture and other goods to bypass scrutiny. Volunteers from the India Pride Project , led by shipping expert S. Vijay Kumar , helped track patterns of theft and supported international investigations that aligned with US Homeland Security probes.
A breakthrough came after Kapoor’s former associate Grace Paramaspry provided critical information about his operations. He was later arrested in Germany and extradited to India following coordinated international action. Operation Hidden Idol , jointly conducted by Indian and US authorities, eventually recovered more than 250 artefacts valued at over USD 100 million . The case also forced several museums, including the National Gallery of Australia , to reassess acquisitions after photographic evidence confirmed stolen origins, leading to the return of a Nataraj statue to India.
Among the key pieces now repatriated are a USD 2 million bronze Avalokiteshvara , a sandstone dancing Ganesha from Madhya Pradesh, and a USD 7.5 million red sandstone Buddha statue . Officials said many of the artefacts were stolen decades ago and passed through galleries, auctions, and private collections before being traced and recovered.
India’s Consul General in New York, Binaya Pradhan , praised close cooperation between Indian agencies and US Homeland Security Investigations, calling the return a result of sustained international collaboration. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit said it has now recovered more than 6,200 artefacts worth over USD 485 million , returning them to 36 countries, while over 1,000 more items remain under review for repatriation.
Officials added that Kapoor remains central to multiple ongoing investigations, with his network continuing to be dismantled across jurisdictions, even as many stolen Indian artefacts are still believed to be held in collections abroad.