Parliament Question: Prevention of illicit trafficking of antiquities

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1460 ANSWERED ON 12/02/2026 PREVENTION OF ILLICIT TRAFFICKING OF ANTIQUITIES 1460. SHRI A. A. RAHIM : Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:- (a) the number of cases of illicit trafficking, theft or illegal export of antiquities and cultural artefacts reported in the country during the last five years, year-wise and State-wise; (b) the number of investigations initiated, arrests made, prosecutions launched and convictions secured in such cases; (c) the estimated value and type of cultural property involved in these cases; (d) whether any measures have been instituted to strengthen surveillance, documentation and inter-agency coordination with customs, police and international bodies to prevent illicit trade; and (e) the steps taken or proposed to empower local heritage bodies and communities to protect cultural property and curb trafficking at source? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a)to(c) Six theft cases have been reported from the Monuments of National Importance. Recovery have been made in four cases. (Annexure I). FIR was lodged in all the cases. None of the above has been reported to have moved abroad. No valuation by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been done regarding the above antiquities. (d)&(e) The Government takes necessary steps towards the prevention of illicit trafficking of cultural property. Besides regular watch and ward staff, Private Security Guards and Central Industrial Security Force have been deployed as per requirement at monuments, sites and museums. Whenever any theft of antiquity is reported; FIR is lodged and ‘Look Out Notice’ is issued to the law enforcement agencies including Custom Exit Channels to keep vigil to trace stolen antiquity and prevent its export. Efforts are being made to raise awareness towards preserving cultural heritage. *****ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (C) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1460 FOR 12.02.2026 DETAILS OF STOLEN ANTIQUITIES FROM THE MONUMENTS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS S.No. State Name of Monuments/Sites Name of Year of Status (from where the antiquities object stolen theft were stolen and location) 1. Andhra Golingeswara group of Nandi 2021 Recovered Pradesh Temples, Biccavolu, District sculpture East Godawari. 2. Uttarakhand Bhairav Temple, Mrityunjay Shiva Linga 2021 Recovered Temple Complex, Dwarahat, District Almora. 3. Jharkhand Sitagarha Archaeological Two sculptures 2021 Recovered Excavation Site, District of Buddha in Hazaribagh. bhumisparsha mudra 4. Karnataka Ganpati Amma Shrine of Stone idol of 2022 - Lakshminarasimha Temple, Ganpati Marehalli, District Mandya. 5. Bihar Village Dattina, P.S Vikram, Image of 2022 - District Patna. Vishnu 6. Tamil Nadu Parthasarathi and Krishna Idol of Vishnu 2024 Recovered Temples, Parthivapuram, Vilavancode, District Kanyakumari. ******