UK Set To Return Priceless Artefacts And Idols To India

The High Commission of India in London hosted an event at India House on 3 March 2026 to mark the return of several important antiquities to India. The gathering was attended by representatives from the Ashmolean Museum, Homeland Security Investigations at the Embassy of the United States of America in London, and the London Metropolitan Police Service, along with members of London’s arts and culture community. The artefacts being repatriated include a 16th-century bronze idol of Saint Thirumankai Alvar, idols of Dancing Child Saint Sambandar/Bal Krishna, Seated Ganesha with Parasol, Dancing Ganesha and a pedestal. The return of the Thirumankai Alvar bronze idol began in 2019 when the Ashmolean Museum informed the High Commission about it and requested verification of its provenance. Following inquiries by the Archaeological Survey of India, the High Commission formally requested its return and facilitated consultations between the museum, authorities from Tamil Nadu, and the Soundararaja Perumal Temple, from where the idol had originally been removed. A metal analysis commissioned by the museum supported the provenance findings. After confirmation, the Ashmolean’s Board of Visitors and the University Council approved the claim and referred the matter to the Charity Commission for England & Wales which authorised the transfer. The idol will now be handed to ASI for its return to the temple. Separately, information from India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence led HSI to investigate antiquities smuggled to the United States, resulting in arrests and seizures. The probe also identified artefacts in the UK. Working with the Met Police and the High Commission, authorities seized four statues in London, whose provenance was confirmed with ASI support.