Indian-origin US man arrested for smuggling antiques

A team of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials busted a smuggling racket and recovered several antiques and artefacts from the possession of Vijay Nanda, an American businessman of Indian-origin. Nanda, who is allegedly the key player in the international art smuggling syndicate with extensive connections in the US, Europe, and Hong Kong, was arrested by the DRI team on Monday.

As per DRI officials, based on specific information, Nanda's residence and godowns were searched at Girgaum Chowpatty on Tuesday. The accused's godowns in Byculla were also searched. These coordinated searches resulted in the recovery of several antiques and artefacts for which Nanda had no legal documentation. He is also not registered with the Archaeological Survey of India as an antique dealer.

The search in Nanda's house resulted in the recovery of various figurines and stone sculptures. These include terracotta figurines from the 1st century AD, bronze figurines of Mahishasura Mardhini and Ganesha, all dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Officials also found six large stone sculptures/statues stored in crates from Nanda's Byculla godown. These include statues of Varada Ganesha, Padmapani, Awalokateshwara, Standing Vishnu and figurines of Naga and Nagini.

"These statues appear to be relics stolen or vandalised from various temples in Eastern and Southern India, and belong to the 10th or 11th century AD. There has been an attempt made to legitimise the same through registrations of ASI, and the creation of fake documents of procurement. Several other antiques recovered from Nanda's home have been detained for verification as it is highly likely that these were stolen from museums or vandalised from temples. It appeared that Nanda had arrived in India a few days earlier to make arrangements to smuggle the statues stored in the crates," said a DRI official.

Nanda's business associate, Udit Jain, has already been arrested in Chennai by DRI in connection with smuggling of antiques and ancient paintings as part of the Deendayalan syndicate.

Explaining the syndicate's modus operandi, an officer said: "Sculptures are stolen from temples in South and Eastern India. These sculptures are then legitimised by way of forging ASI certificates or obtaining certificates by misrepresentation and false documentation. These are then smuggled out of India, concealed inside furniture, handicrafts, ready-made garment consignments. Nanda further arranges for auctions and subsequent sale in the United States and Hong Kong to private collections and museums."

Gupta Era gold coins and post-Mauryan terracotta figurines, are among the antiques that have been smuggled by the syndicate in the past.