The Australian National Gallery has announced it will return 14 art works to India that were allegedly stolen, looted or smuggled in the country illegally.
Religious and cultural artefacts include sculptures, imaged and scrolls which cost about $ 2.2m (£ 1.57m).
‘Difficult Chapter Of Our History’
Gallery director Nick Mitzevich commented about the recent developments and said that their return would close “one of most difficult chapter of our history”.
One artefact is connected to Subhash Kapoor, a former New York art dealer and alleged smuggler.
Kapoor is awaiting legal trial in India, has denied all charges.
What Are The Artworks About?
Some of the art pieces which are disputed date back to the 12th century, when the Chola dynasty dominated the flourishing of Hindu art in southern state of India Tamil Nadu.
The Canberra Gallery has already returned some of the works it purchased via Kapoor, including a bronze statue of the Hindu god Shiva that it bought for $ 5m (£ 3.6m) in 2008.
Mr Mitzevich confirmed to AFP that the cultural artifacts would be returned to the Indian government in a few months.
The High Commissioner of India in Australia has welcomed the move and he calls it “extraordinary act of goodwill and gesture of friendship”.
Illegal Art Dealer And Trafficker
The National Gallery said it had unveiled a new framework for avoiding such instances in the future.
Subhash Kapoor has also been the prime target of American investigation called Operation Hidden Idol that ended up in the confiscation of hundreds of historically important artefacts.
He previously owned the Art of the Past gallery in Manhattan on the Upper East Side, which was raided by US authorities in early 2012.
Kapoor is also requested to be extradited by Manhattan District Attorney.
