US returns more than 1400 looted artefacts that are worth USD 10 million to India

The US government has said it returned more than 1,400 looted artefacts worth $10 million to India.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office said in a statement: "The pieces were recovered pursuant to several ongoing investigations into criminal trafficking networks, including those of alleged antiquities trafficker Subhash Kapoor and convicted trafficker Nancy Wiener."

The pieces were returned at a ceremony with Manish Kulhary from the Consulate General of India in New York and Alexandra deArmas, Group Supervisor from the Homeland Security Investigation, New York Cultural Property, Art, and Antiquities Group.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. said, "We will continue to investigate the many trafficking networks that have targeted Indian cultural heritage."

“I thank our team of prosecutors and analysts, along with our partners at HSI, for their continued commitment to returning stolen and looted artifacts," Bragg said.

“Today’s repatriation marks another victory in what has been a multi-year, international investigation into antiquities trafficked by one of history’s most prolific offenders. HSI New York and our colleagues at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office have worked tirelessly with our partners in India and beyond to disrupt and dismantle the smuggling networks and in turn recover these invaluable pieces,” said HSI New York Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker.

“While our work continues, we remain resolute in our commitment to safeguard against the plundering of antiquities and guarantee that those who seek to gain from these heinous acts are held fully accountable," Walker said.

Earlier in September during Prime Minister Modi's visit, the United States had returned 297 antiquities that had been stolen or trafficked.

In a symbolic handing over, a select few pieces were showcased to PM Modi and President Biden on the sidelines of their bilateral meeting in Wilmington, Delaware.

PM Modi thanked President Biden for his support in the return of these artefacts. He noted that these objects were not just part of India’s historical material culture, but formed the inner core of its civilization and consciousness.

The antiquities belong to a time period spanning almost 4000 years, from 2000 BCE – 1900 CE, and have origins in different parts of India.

The majority of the antiquities are terracotta artefacts from Eastern India, while others are made in stone, metal, wood, and ivory and belong to different parts of the country.

Ten antiquities were also returned during PM’s visit to the USA in June 2016; 157 antiquities during his visit in September 2021 and a further 105 antiquities during his visit in June last year.