India has received 657 antiquities from the United States, collectively valued at nearly $14 million. These artefacts were stolen and trafficked through international networks before being sold in the US.
The artefacts were handed over at an event attended by Rajlakshmi Kadam from the Consulate General of India in New York.
Among the returned artefacts are a $2 million bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara, a sandstone statue of a dancing Ganesha, and a red sandstone Buddha statue.
The artefacts were recovered from the collections of disgraced art dealer Subhash Kapoor and convicted trafficker Nancy Wiener.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said more efforts are needed to return stolen cultural property to India.
