Stolen 12th Century Buddha Statue to Return to India After 57 Years
A priceless 12th century Buddha statue, snatched from India nearly six decades ago, is finally heading home. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) will hand the bronze-and-silver artwork back to the Indian High Commissioner in a special ceremony on August 15, coinciding with India’s Independence Day.
Historic Theft from India’s Nalanda Site in 1961
The exquisite Buddha statue was one of 14 stolen from the Archaeological Survey of India site museum in Nalanda, eastern India, back in 1961. Over the years, the statue passed through many hands before ending up with a dealer ready to sell.
Experts Spot Stolen Statue at Trade Fair, Trigger Investigation
It was spotted in March 2018 by eagle-eyed experts Lynda Albertson from the Association for Research into Crimes Against Art (ARCA) and Vijay Kumar of the India Pride Project. They swiftly alerted police, setting the wheels in motion to reclaim the stolen treasure.
Police and Owners Cooperate to Return Cultural Gem
Detective Constable Sophie Hayes from the Met’s Art and Antiques Unit praised the smooth cooperation:
“The unit has a long history of reuniting owners with their stolen property. We have established there was no criminality by the current owner or dealer, who fully cooperated. This case is a true example of collaboration between law enforcement, traders, and scholars.”
Detective Chief Inspector Sheila Stewart will personally return the statue to Indian High Commissioner YK Sinha during the ceremony.
UK Minister Hails Cultural Diplomacy Victory
Michael Ellis, UK Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, said:
“As we celebrate India’s Independence Day, this recovery shows how the Metropolitan Police’s Art and Antiques Unit and the London art market work hand in hand for global cultural diplomacy. We’re proud to be among the first to recover these elusive Buddha statues stolen from Nalanda almost sixty years ago.”
This high-profile return marks a major step in restoring India’s priceless heritage and cracking down on art theft worldwide.
