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DRI gets ASI nod to prosecute 'smuggler'

Nanda’s house search resulted in the recovery of various figurines and stone sculptures

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Six large stone sculptures were recovered from Vijay Nanda’s house
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The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials on Wednesday received a sanction from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to prosecute international antique smuggler Vijay Nanda, who was caught by the agency in February this year.

Nanda, who is currently out on bail, is alleged to be a prime player in the international art smuggling syndicate with extensive connections in the US, Europe, and Hong Kong.

On February 6, 2017, based on a specific intelligence, the Girgaum Chowpatty residence of Nanda was searched. Further, his godowns located in Byculla were also searched. These coordinated searches resulted in the recovery of several antiques and artifacts for which Nanda had no legal documentation or registration with the ASI as an antique dealer.

Nanda's house search resulted in the recovery of various figurines and stone sculptures. These include Terracotta figurines from 1st Century A.D., bronze figurines of Mahishasura Mardhini and Ganesha, all from the 17th and 18th Century. There were six large stone sculptures/statues stored in crates which were detained from his godown in Byculla. These include statues of Varada Ganesha, Padmapani, Awalokateshwara, Standing Vishnu and figurines of Naga and Nagini.

"The seized statues appeared to be stolen/vandalised from various temples in Eastern and Southern India and belong to the 10th-11th Century A.D. These sculptures are then legitimised by way of forging ASI certificates or obtaining certificates by misrepresentation and false documentation. Nanda used to arrange for auctions and subsequent sale in the US and Hong Kong to private antique collectors and museums," said a DRI official.

TREASURE FOUND

  • Nanda’s house search resulted in the recovery of various figurines and stone sculptures.
     
  • These include Terracotta figurines from 1st Century A.D., bronze figurines of Mahishasura Mardhini and Ganesha, all from the 17th and 18th Century
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