## Summary of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 212 Regarding Stolen Indian Artefacts (21.07.2025)
This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 212, concerning the status of stolen Indian artefacts. The response addresses queries regarding surveys/studies on artefact theft, lists of stolen artefacts, recovery status (State/UT-wise), artefacts recovered from other countries (country-wise), and government initiatives to raise awareness.
**Key Findings:**
* The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains up-to-date data on theft cases related to protected monuments, sites, and museums under its jurisdiction.
* **State/UT-wise details of stolen antiquities (last five years):**
* Karnataka: Copper Kalasa stolen from Sadashiva Temple, Nuggehalli (2020); Stone idol of Ganpati stolen from Ganpati Amma Shrine of Lakshminarasimha Temple, Marehalli (2022).
* Andhra Pradesh: Nandi sculpture stolen from Golingeswara group of Temples, Biccavolu (2021) - Recovered.
* Uttarakhand: Mrityunjay Shiva Linga stolen from Bhairav Temple, Mrityunjay Temple Complex, Dwarahat (2021) - Recovered.
* Jharkhand: Two sculptures of Buddha in bhumisparsha mudra stolen from Sitagarha Archaeological Excavation Site, Hazaribagh (2021) - Recovered.
* Bihar: Image of Vishnu stolen from Village Dattina, P.S Vikram, District Patna (2022).
* Tamil Nadu: Idol of Vishnu stolen from Parthasarathi and Krishna Temples, Parthivapuram, Vilavancode (2024) - Recovered.
* **Country-wise details of retrieved antiquities (last five years):**
* Australia: 34
* Canada: 1
* Italy: 1
* Thailand: 1
* UK: 14
* USA: 559
* **Total: 610**
* The Government conducts awareness programs, exhibitions, and workshops to increase awareness regarding stolen Indian artefacts and their recovery. Special programs are conducted on various occasions for increasing awareness among the people.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the preservation and promotion of art and culture of India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding stolen artifacts was raised.
SHRI PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the unstarred question No. 212 regarding stolen Indian artefacts.
SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT: Minister of Culture and Tourism who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in the country.
Karnataka: A state in South India, where theft occurred at Sadashiva Temple and Lakshminarasimha Temple.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in South India, where theft occurred at Golingeswara group of Temples.
Uttarakhand: A state in North India, where theft occurred at Bhairav Temple.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.212
ANSWERED ON 21/07/2025
STATUS OF STOLEN INDIAN ARTEFACTS
212. SHRI PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has conducted any survey/study regarding the theft of
Indian artefacts during the last five years;
(b) if so, the details of the list of stolen artefacts during the last five years and their
present status, State/UT-wise;
(c) the details of the total number of artefacts recovered, still missing and unaccounted
for over the last five years, State/UT-wise;
(d) the details of the list of stolen Indian artefacts recovered from other countries
during the last five years, country-wise; and
(e) whether the Government has undertaken any steps for increasing awareness
regarding stolen Indian artefacts and their recovery and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a)to(c) Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains up to date data of theft cases in
respect of protected monuments, sites and museums under its jurisdiction.
Details are annexed as ‘Annexure I’.
(d) Country wise details of the antiquities retrieved during last five years are
annexed as ‘Annexure II’.
(e) Government conducts awareness programmes, exhibitions and workshop for
increasing awareness regarding stolen Indian artefacts and their recovery.
Special programmes are conducted on various occasions for increasing
awareness among the people.
*****
1ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 212 FOR 21.07.2025
DETAILS OF STOLEN ANTIQUITIES DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS
S. State Name of Monuments/Sites Name of Year of Status
(from where the object stolen theft
No. antiquities were stolen
and location)
1. Karnataka Sadashiva Temple, Copper Kalasa 2020 -
Nuggehalli, Taluk
Channarayapatna, District
Hassan.
2. Andhra Golingeswara group of Nandi 2021 Recovered
Pradesh Temples, Biccavolu, District sculpture
East Godawari.
3. Uttarakhand Bhairav Temple, Mrityunjay Shiva Linga 2021 Recovered
Temple Complex, Dwarahat,
District Almora.
4. Jharkhand Sitagarha Archaeological Two sculptures 2021 Recovered
Excavation Site, District of Buddha in
Hazaribagh. bhumisparsha
mudra
5. Karnataka Ganpati Amma Shrine of Stone idol of 2022 -
Lakshminarasimha Temple, Ganpati
Marehalli, District Mandya.
6. Bihar Village Dattina, P.S Vikram, Image of 2022 -
District Patna. Vishnu
7. Tamil Nadu Parthasarathi and Krishna Idol of Vishnu 2024 Recovered
Temples, Parthivapuram,
Vilavancode, District
Kanyakumari.
2ANNEXURE II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF LOKSABHAUNSTARRED
QUESTION NO 212 FOR 21.07.2025
COUNTRY WISE DETAIL OF RETRIEVAL OF ANTIQUITIES
Country 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Total
Australia 3 - 29 2 - 34
Canada - 1 - - - 1
Italy - - - 1 - 1
Thailand - - - - 1 1
UK 5 1 1 7 14
USA - 157 - 105 297 559
Total- 610
3