US Returns 1,440 Looted Artifacts to India

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has successfully returned 1,440 looted antiquities valued at $10 million to India, including a sandstone sculpture of a Celestial Dancer and a Tanesar Mother Goddess statue. These items were recovered through ongoing investigations into trafficking networks associated with convicted traffickers Subhash Kapoor and Nancy Wiener. The sculptures had been previously displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art before being seized by authorities. District Attorney Alvin Bragg emphasized the commitment to investigating networks targeting Indian cultural heritage. Kapoor, who was convicted in India and faces extradition, is noted as a key figure in the illicit antiquities trade. The repatriation ceremony included representatives from the Indian consulate and the Homeland Security Investigations agency.