Lok Sabha Question No. 1957 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-30
Subject: Smuggling of Artefacts
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: MANSHANKAR NINAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION   NO.1957

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2018

## SMUGGLING OF ARTEFACTS

## +1957. SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA   :

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that smuggling of articles of utmost archeological importance is going on continuously and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the Government is also aware that several illegal traders have their own websites and they openly auction artefacts brought stealthily; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard so far?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) Thirteen  numbers  of    cases  of  theft  of  the  antiquities  have  been reported from Centrally Protected Monuments of Archaeological Survey of India during last three years from 2015-2017 and current year  upto 30 th June, 2018 (Annexure I).
- (b)
- to However, in the past a complaint related to online auction of a Jain idol
- No, Madam.   At present, there is no such information available that illegal traders  have their own  websites  for auction of artefacts.
- (c) by  www.saffronart.com  website  came  to  light.  The  complaint  was investigated by the CBI but could not be established.

## ANNEXURE I

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1957 FOR 30.07.2018

Statement  giving  details  of  State/U.T.  wise  theft  of  antiquities  from  Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India for last three years from 2015-2017 and current year  upto  30 th June, 2018

| Sl. No.   | State   | Name of Monument/Sites/Place of origin   | Period, origin and historical value of the antiquities   | Date of theft   | Action taken/Present status   |
|-----------|---------|------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------------------|

|   YEAR 2015 | YEAR 2015          | YEAR 2015                                                                                       | YEAR 2015                                                                             | YEAR 2015       | YEAR 2015                                                                    |
|-------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|           1 | Karnataka          | Bhimesheshwara temple at Neelgunda, Harappanahalli Taluk, Davangere district, Karnataka         | Schist stone Yaksha sculpture dated 11 th - 12 th century A.D. approx.                | 26.04.2015      | F.I.R. lodged in respective police station and matter is under investigation |
|           2 | Orissa             | Trivikrama (Locally called Bali Vamana) from the premises of Varahanatha temple, Jajpur, Orrisa | Sculpture of Trivikrama (Locally called Bali dated 11 th - 12 th century A.D. approx. | 18.05.2015      | F.I.R. lodged in respective police station and matter is under investigation |
|           3 | Karnataka          | Bhoganandiswara temple at Nand, Chikkaballapur Talkuk Chikkaballapur District, Karanatak        | Black stone kalsha dated 11 th -12 th century A.D. approx.                            | 16.09.2015      | F.I.R. lodged in respective police station and matter is under investigation |
|           4 | Maharashtra (M.H.) | Sculpture Shed, Aam Khas Gate, Daulatabad Fort, District-Aurangabad                             | 11 antiquities dated 16 th -17 th century A.D. approx.                                | 16.09.2015      | F.I.R. lodged in respective police station and matter is under investigation |
|           5 | Bihar              | Jain Temple, Vaibhar, Rajgir, Patna.                                                            | Stone Sculpture dated 11 th -12 th century A.D. approx.                               | 22 & 23.11.2015 | F.I.R. lodged in respective police station and matter is under investigation |
|           6 | Orrisa             | Bhairawa Ganesh and Kaumari form Chandrasekhar temple, Kapilas                                  | Sculpture dated 11 th - 12 th century A.D. approx.                                    | 25/26.11.2015   | F.I.R. lodged in respective police station and matter is under investigation |

| YEAR 2016   | YEAR 2016                 | YEAR 2016                                                                                              | YEAR 2016                                                                                                | YEAR 2016                   | YEAR 2016                                                                    |
|-------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 7.          | Maharashtra               | Kasa Fort, district Raigad, Maharashtra                                                                | Iron Canon (small size) dated 11 th -12 th century A.D. approx.                                          | 05.12.2015.                 | F.I.R. lodged in respective police station and matter is under investigation |
| 8.          | Rajasthan                 | Ancient Ruins Kalyanpur, Distt. Udaipur                                                                | Three Stone sculpture dated 11 th - 12 th century A.D. approx.                                           | 3 rd & 4 th Feb. 2016.      | F.I.R. lodged in respective police station and matter is under investigation |
| 9.          | Chhattisgarh              | Bhairavbaba Temple, Dantewada & Ruined Temple, Jiyapara, District South Bastar Dantewada, Chhattisgarh | Two stone sculptures of Bhairava                                                                         | 6th & 7th July 2016         | F.I.R. lodged in respective police station and matter is under investigation |
| 10.         | Andhra Pradesh            | Sri Kumaraarama Bhimeswara Swamy temple, Samalkot Mandal of East Godavari District                     | Stone dated 11 th - 12 th century A.D. approx.                                                           | 24 th & 25 th November 2016 | F.I.R. lodged in respective police station and matter is under investigation |
| 11.         | Karnataka                 | Ramalingeswara temple complex Avani, Mulbagali taluk, Kolar district, Karnataka                        | One stone Ganesha fixed on the open mandapa of Vigneswara Shrine dated 11 th -12 th century A.D. approx. | 26 th & 27 th November 2016 | F.I.R. lodged in respective police station and matter is under investigation |
| 12.         | Andhra Pradesh            | Veerabhadra temple, Motupalle Chinaganjam Mandal, Prakasam dist. Andhra Pradesh                        | Stone Nandi idol                                                                                         | 12th & 13th December 2016.  | Recovered on 18.12.20 16                                                     |
| YEAR 2017   | YEAR 2017                 | YEAR 2017                                                                                              | YEAR 2017                                                                                                | YEAR 2017                   | YEAR 2017                                                                    |
| 13.         | Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh | Sri Anadavalli Ammavaru Temple, Parasurameshwara Swamy Complex, Gudimallam, district Chitoor           | Nandi idol stone sculpture of Nandi dated 11 th -12 th century A.D. approx.                              | 03.11.2017                  | F.I.R. lodged in respective police station and matter is under investigation |