A 12th century bronze Buddha statue which was stolen from an Indian museum over 57 years ago has been found in London and is now being returned to the Indian government.
The statue with silver inlay was among one of the 14 stolen from the Archaeological Survey of India site museum in Nalanda in 1961.
It was spotted at a trade fair in England this year in March, prompting an investigation by the Art and Antique Unit of London´s Metropolitan Police.
They alerted the dealer and owner, who are not accused of any wrongdoing, and who agreed for it to return this statue to India.
Today, that statue was handed over to the Indian High Commission in London in a ceremony.
“This underlines how law enforcement and the London art market are working hand in hand to deliver positive cultural diplomacy to the world,” said arts minister Michael Ellis in a statement.
Detective Constable Sophie Hayes of the Art and Antique unit said, “Particular credit must go to the eagle-eyed informants who made us aware that the missing piece had been located after so many years.”
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