Lok Sabha Question No. 1847 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Smuggling of Stolen Artefacts
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI, BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN, ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION   NO.1847 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.11.2016.

## SMUGGLING OF STOLEN ARTEFACTS

## 1847.       SHRI SHIVKUMAR  UDASI: SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN : SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY:

Will the Minister of CULTURE  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that a large number of Indian artifacts are being stolen and smuggled from the country and if so,  the  details  of  such  cases  reported  during  each  of  the  last  three years, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether the Government is also aware that some illegal traders are having their own website through which they are selling such artifacts;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to stop the occurrence of smuggling and illegal trading of these artifacts;
- (d) whether the Government has appointed any special team of archaeological experts in airports, sea ports and check posts to curb such illegal smuggling; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE, CULTURE  AND TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) Fourteen antiquities have been stolen from centrally protected monuments/museums  during  last  three  years.      Details  are  at annexure I. However, as per the information received from CBI there are three cases registered during last three years at Annexure II.
- (b) to (c) As per the information received from CBI a preliminary enquiry with allegation  of  illegal  sale  of  ancient  Jain  idol  through  auction  on Internet  by  www.Saffronart.com  website  was  conducted.  However, during the enquiry allegation could not be established.
- (d) to (e) Yes,  Madam. The Archaeological  Survey  of  India  has  assigned  the services  of  an  archaeologist,  at  each  international  exit  channels  to assist the custom authorities to verify antiquities brought for export to curb illegal smuggling of same.

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY PART TO (a) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1847 FOR 28.11.2016

Statement giving details of theft of antiquities from Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites/Museums maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India  during last three years from  2014 to till date

## YEAR 2014

|   S.No. | State     | Name of Monument/ sites/ District                                                                                                                                                              | Description of object                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Date of theft         | Action Taken                                   | Status                               |
|---------|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
|       1 | Karnataka | Theft of one Durga Sculpture from the premises of Panchalingeswara Temple, Govindanahalli, K.R.Pete Taluk, Mandya district, Karnataka.                                                         | The stone sculpture of eight armed Mahishamardini (Durga). The deity bears trident, sword, chakra, arrow, bell, shield and bow as weapons. She is shown pushing the human form of demon in her lower left hand. The sculpture is made of grey soap stone. | 07.03.2014            | F.I.R. lodged                                  | Not recovered                        |
|       2 | Karnataka | Theft of one broken granite Shivalinga from Shiva temple, Thimmalapur, Hospet taluk, Bellary Dist, Karnataka, a centrally protected monument- reg.                                             | Broken Stone (granite) Shivalinga                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 18 th -19 th .06.2014 | F.I.R. lodged                                  | Not recovered                        |
|       3 | Gujarat   | Theft of two wooden carved Brackets from Vitthalbhai Haveli at Vso, Dist. Kheda                                                                                                                | Two wooden carved Brackets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 23.6.2014             | F.I.R. lodged No look out notice s were issued | Recovered back by police authorities |
|       4 | Karnataka | Theft of one black granite stone Nandi fixed to the Bharateswara subshrine of Ramalingaeswara temple complex Avani, Mulbangal taluk, Kolar district, Karnataka, a Centrally Protected Monument | one black granite stone Nandi                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 18-19.07.2014         | F.I.R. lodged                                  | Not recovered.                       |

|   5. | Bihar     | Theft of one sculpture of Jain Tirthanker (Mahavira)made of stone (granite) from the premises of Jain Shrine Temple Rajgir a centrally protected monument   | sculpture of Jain Tirthanker (Mahavira)                         | 30- 31.07.2014   | F.I.R. lodged   | Not recovered   |
|------|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|    6 | Karnataka | Theft of Two Schist Stone Sculptures from Nageswar temple, Mosale, Hassan taluk, Hassan district Karnataka, centrally protected monument.                   | Two Schist Stone Sculptures of Mahisasuramardini and Sarasawati | 13- 14.09.2014   | F.I.R. Lodged   | Not recovered   |

## YEAR 2015

|   S.No. | State            | Name of Monument/ sites/ District                                                                                                                                       | Description of object                        | Date of theft                        | Action Taken   | Status        |
|---------|------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|----------------|---------------|
|       1 | Himachal Pradesh | , Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                                      | Theft of Antique Bell                        | In the intervening night 22- 04-2015 | FIR Lodged     | Not recovered |
|       2 | Karnataka        | Theft of one schist stone Yaksha sculpture from Bhimesheshwara temple at Neelgunda, Harappanahalli Taluk, Davangere district, Karnataka a centrally protected monument. | schist stone Yaksha sculpture                | 26 April 2015                        | F.I.R. Lodged  | Not recovered |
|       3 | Orissa           | Theft of one sculpture of Trivikrama (Locally called Bali Vamana) from the premises of Varahanatha temple, Jajpur, Orrisa, a centrally protected monument.              | sculpture of Trivikrama (Locally called Bali | 18 May 2015                          | F.I.R. Lodged  | Not recovered |

| 4.   | Karnataka   | Bhoganandiswara temple at Nand, Chikkaballapur Talkuk Chikkaballapur District, Karanatak   | Black stone kalsa   | 16.sep, 2015   | F.I.R Lodged   | Not recovered   |
|------|-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|----------------|----------------|-----------------|

|   5. | Maharashtra   | Sculpture shed near Aam khas gate, Daulatabad Fort. District- Aurangabad.   | Sculpture shed                                           | 16,sep,2015    | F.I.R Lodged   | Not Recovered   |
|------|---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|-----------------|
|    6 | Odisha        | Chandrasekhar temple, kapilas a centrally protected monument.               | Theft of three sculptures of Bhairava, Ganesha ,kaumari. | 25/26-11- 2015 | FIR Lodged     | Not recovered   |

## YEAR 2016

|   S.No. | State        | Name of Monument/ sites/ District             | Description of object                                                                                                                                                           | Date of theft   | Action Taken   | Status        |
|---------|--------------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|----------------|---------------|
|       1 | Rajasthan    | Ancient Ruins Kalyanpur, Disst, Udaipur Theft | theft of three sculptures of standing figures of shiva and parvati , lakulish, again lakulish shiva                                                                             | 3/4- Feb- 2016  | FIR Lodged     | Not recovered |
|       2 | Chhattisgarh | Jiya paa, District South Bastar Dantewada,    | Theft of Standing 1. Bhairav image. A loose sculpture theft from Bhairavbaba temple, Dantewada 2.Standing Bhairav image, A loose sculpture theft from, ruined temple, jiyapara. | 6/7- july,2016  | FIR Lodged     | Not recovered |

## Annexure - II

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY PART TO (a) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1847 FOR 28.11.2016

| Year                   | Case No. and Date of Registration                                                                                                                                                         | Name of accused                                  | Allegation in Brief Name the where crime                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Allegation in Brief Name the where crime   | of State/UT occurred   | Present Status                    |
|------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1                      | 2                                                                                                                                                                                         | 3                                                | 4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 4                                          | 5                      | 6                                 |
| 2013                   | NIL                                                                                                                                                                                       | NIL                                              | NIL                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | NIL                                        | NIL                    | NIL                               |
| 2014                   | PE 1/2014/CBI/E OU-V/EO-II New Delhi Dt. 14.02.2014 The PE was related to illegal selling of Idol of Lord Tirthankar Parsvanatha of 11 th century through online auction for the offences | www.Saff ron Act. Com and other unknown persons. | Illegal sale of ancient Jain Idol through auction on Internet by WWW.Saffron Art. Com website.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Delhi                                      | Delhi                  | PE has been closed on 31.03.2014. |
| 2015                   | IT Act. RC 15/2015- EOU-V Dt. 29.10.2015                                                                                                                                                  | Unknown persons                                  | The case has been registered in pursuance of Hon'ble High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla order dated 01.10.2015 in writ petition CWP No. 3660 of 2015, investigation of FIR No. 99/2010 of PS- West Boileauganj, Himachal Pradesh has been transferred to CBI. The case relates to theft of Antique Bell from the Indian Institute of Advanced                           | Himachal Pradesh.                          | Himachal Pradesh.      | Under investigation               |
| 2016 (upto 31.10.2016) | RC 19/2016- EOU-V Dt. 27.10.2016                                                                                                                                                          | Unknown persons                                  | study, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. The case has been registered, in pursuance of the directions of Hon'ble High Court of J&K, Srinagar dated 26.09.2016, passed in PIL No. 305/2008,titled Valley Citizen Counsel V/s State of J&K and others. The case relates to theft of Holy Quran which carries seal of the Emperor Aurangabad from PS Museum, Lal Mandi, Srinagar, J&K. | J&K                                        | J&K                    | Under investigation               |