Red sandstone Buddha figure standing with right hand raised in ‘abhaya mudra’, a gesture of protection. . The $7.5 million statue was smuggled into New York. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
US authorities announced the return of 657 antiquities with a combined value of nearly $14 million to India. The pieces were obtained as part of several ongoing investigations into criminal trafficking rings, including those of alleged antiques dealer Subash Kapoor and convicted trafficker Nancy Wiener.
The artifacts were returned in a ceremony attended by the Consul General of India Rajlakshmi Kadam in New York.
Published – 29 Apr 2026 14:35 IST
