Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin invited for hand over of 10 stolen idols

New Delhi, May 28: Central govt. is to hand over 10 stolen idols and antiquities to Tamil Nadu in the coming week. Out of the 10 retrieved idols, four objects have been recovered from Australia between 2020-2022, and other six from the USA, last year.

 

 

 

 

In order to hand over the stolen idols and antiquities, back to the state of Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin has been sent an official invitation for the ceremony that has been organized in Delhi next week. Cabinet ministers from both, the Centre as well as the state of Tamil Nadu are expected to be present on the occasion.

 

 

 

 

 

According to the reports, the idol wing of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have verified the retrieved antiquities. Due to the increased frequency of such stolen antiques being recovered, the Tamil Nadu state govt. has reportedly set up a separate Idol Wing-Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to deal with similar issues more effectively.

 

 

As per the official process, once the state govt. receives the idols, they will be sent for installation at their original locations. Among the recovered antiquities, the idol of Dvārapāla is a significant one, belonging to the Vijayanagar dynasty dating 15th-16th century CE. The sculpture was burgled from Moondreeswaramudayar Temple, Tiruneveli, in 1994 and was retrieved back in 2020 from Australia. The Natarāja idol retrieved in 2021 from the US dates back to the 11th-12th century CE. It was stolen from Punnainallur Arulmigu Mariyamman Temple in Thanjavur. Another sculpture of Kankālamurti retrieved in 2021 from the US, was stolen from Narasinganadhar Swamy Temple, Tirunelveli, in 1985.