More Coverage
Twitter Coverage
Satyaagrah
Written on
Satyaagrah
Written on
Satyaagrah
Written on
Satyaagrah
Written on
Satyaagrah
Written on
JOIN SATYAAGRAH SOCIAL MEDIA
"Wilderness is the raw material out of which man has hammered the artifact of civilization": Disgraced Manhattan dealer Subhash Kapoor finished 10-year sentence in India for antiquities trafficking, prosecutors in the US and Germany await their go at him

Notorious smuggler Subhash Kapoor who stole and sold ancient Hindu deities has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by the court in the case of stealing and smuggling 19 antique murtis. Along with Kapoor, 5 of his accomplices who helped him in the act have also been convicted.
|
Kapoor was arrested in relation to the burglary and smuggling of 19 panchaloha murtis worth Rs 94 crores from the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Udayarpalayam, Ariyalur in 2000. TN Idol Wing police filed a case in 2008, but the investigation faced obstacles as Kapoor is a US citizen. A Red Corner notice was issued by Interpol and Kapoor was detained by the German police in 2011.
Later he was handed over to the Idol Wing COD police for investigation in 2012 and extradited to Bharat. He was remanded to judicial custody the next day and lodged in Trichy Central Prison since then. He had tried to delay the trial by filing multiple bail applications and discharge petitions which were all dismissed. In 2020 he filed an application in the Kumbakonam Court seeking to recall and cross-examine 17 witnesses, which was dismissed.
He went to the Madras High Court to challenge it in 2021, which also dismissed his appeal. Only then did the trial commence at the Kumbakonam Additional Chief Magistrate Court, and all the accused were convicted. While Subhash Kapoor and two of his accomplices, Sanjiv Asokan and Packiyakumar, were awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, other convicts Marichamy, Sri Ram alias Sulogu, and Parthiban, were sentenced to 14 years.
The court also fined him Rs 7000, which he refused to pay. As he has already served 11 years in prison, he will be released after paying the fine. It is suspected that he is refusing to pay to delay being picked up by the US and German authorities for investigation. Delay in Kapoor’s trial has strained Bharat- Germany diplomatic relations as the latter has stalled other extradition requests.
Four more cases against Kapoor for smuggling murtis from the temples in Vikramangalam, Veeravanallur, Paluvoor, and Virudhachalam are remaining against Kapoor. They are pending concurrence from the German Government for trials to be initiated. Kapoor smuggled and sold thousands of artifacts to private collectors and museums throughout the world. When he was arrested in Germany, the US launched “Operation Hidden Idol” through which more than 2500 artifacts with links to Kapoor were recovered.
|
Stolen treasures returned
The US has sought his extradition from India, which has redoubled efforts to bring back Hindu and Buddhist religious idols and artefacts robbed from temples, protected ruins and archeological sites.
In 2016, the US returned to India statues and works in bronze and terracotta worth over €96 million at the time, saying that they were part of shipments linked to Kapoor.
Two years later, the US sent back two antique statues worth hundreds of thousands of euros that had been stolen from India and displayed in American museums.
The National Gallery of Australia also returned items, including two 900-year-old statues also linked to Kapoor’s now-infamous New York showroom.
The UK, Canada, and Italy have also repatriated items that were spirited out of India.
Museums have also returned artifacts to Nepal, including the repatriation in August of a 13th-century wooden sculpture of a tree deity from New York’s Metropolitan Museum.
|
Heritage laws lacking
Vijay Kumar, an amateur art detective who has helped India trace and recover stolen artifacts, believed weak laws emboldened smugglers such as Kapoor.
“In the past, our heritage laws have been weak, and India has been lax in going after stolen art and statues,” Kumar told media after Australia handed back 29 artifacts in March this year.
“There is also a perception that India does not care enough about bringing back her treasures,” he said.
India’s National Crime Records Bureau has reported the recovery of 1,493 items out of 4,408 idols and antiquities are stolen between 2008 and 2012.
Separately, the Culture Ministry has reported the theft of 101 priceless antiques from federally protected monuments between 2000 and 2016.
UNESCO estimates that nearly 50,000 objects were smuggled out of India between 1979 and 1989 alone. The UN's culture agency has underscored concerns about lax security at some of the 3,650 state monuments which include treasured ruins from prehistoric times.
Police officers argue relatively light punishment for robbing temples was not enough to drive away thieves.
“Our idols worth millions go missing, but the smugglers are fined just a handful of rupees if caught,” said one federal officer on condition of anonymity.
“This is a joke.”
|
References:
Support Us
Satyagraha was born from the heart of our land, with an undying aim to unveil the true essence of Bharat. It seeks to illuminate the hidden tales of our valiant freedom fighters and the rich chronicles that haven't yet sung their complete melody in the mainstream.
While platforms like NDTV and 'The Wire' effortlessly garner funds under the banner of safeguarding democracy, we at Satyagraha walk a different path. Our strength and resonance come from you. In this journey to weave a stronger Bharat, every little contribution amplifies our voice. Let's come together, contribute as you can, and champion the true spirit of our nation.
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
ICICI Bank of Satyaagrah | Razorpay Bank of Satyaagrah | PayPal Bank of Satyaagrah - For International Payments |
If all above doesn't work, then try the LINK below:
Please share the article on other platforms
DISCLAIMER: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing of images utilized within the text. The website also frequently uses non-commercial images for representational purposes only in line with the article. We are not responsible for the authenticity of such images. If some images have a copyright issue, we request the person/entity to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will take the necessary actions to resolve the issue.
Related Articles
- "Explosive revelations unravel in Srinagar": DSP Sheikh Adil Mushtaq, once celebrated on social media, now faces allegations of corruption, terror funding & liaisons with terrorists, the depth of this scandal promises to shake the very foundation of trust
- Hyundai celebrating ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ had been facing nationwide boycott calls in India: Issues second statement that post by Pakistani counterpart unauthorised, expresses ‘regret’ for pro-terrorist stand
- "Lessons in law or lessons in politics": Unacademy sacking Karan Sangwan highlights the tension between educational platforms and political discourse, Sangwan's praise for British-made laws and urging students towards a political lean ignites debate
- "mein pehley to Musalmaan hoon… If they say Pakistan Murdabad, I will say Pakistan Zindabad," declares Mohammad Akbar Lone, represented by Kapil Sibal in Article 370 abrogation case, stirring a nationwide discourse on allegiance and constitutional loyalty
- Former Muslim Vice President Hamid Ansari and actress Swara Bhasker share dais with Jamaat-e-Islami linked IAMC which lobbied to get India blacklisted and is infamous for targeting India many times for its sovereign decisions
- Fan pages of former Congress leaders, managed by the Congress IT cell rebranded as Maktoob media: Propaganda portal, publicizing Islamic propaganda and Hindumisia content, promoted by terror apologists
- Online petition titled ‘Free Goa from Indian invasion & its continued illegal occupation against UN resolution’ had been started by Atanasia Lobo
- Fahad Shah, editor of the prominent Srinagar-based news portal 'The Kashmir Walla' arrested for anti-national activities and sharing provocative content on the social media platform
- "Slander is the revenge of a coward, and dissimulation of his defense": Rahul Gandhi will be in London for 3 days and will speak at British Parliament, meeting Indian diaspora, addressing a press conference organized by the Indian Journalist Association
- "A nation united, a discord rejected": India unequivocally cancels Shubhneet Singh's tour, taking a firm stance against anti-nationals & demonstrating unity in rejecting the Khalistani supporter's blatant disrespect for the nation's territorial integrity
- Congress leader spreads vaccine hesitancy again, this time claims newborn calves are slaughtered for their serum. Here is the truth
- "Traitors wear many masks but have only one face": J&K Bank's Chief manager, Sajad Ahmad Bazaz, sacked for shadowy ISI links, manipulating media with bank funds, and ties to extremist leaders, was planted for advancing the extremist-separatist ideology
- Wikipedia dismisses Love Jihad as a conspiracy theory by Hindus, but claims reverse Love Jihad against Muslims is real
- "एक और गयो": Omidyar to quit India - Omidyar like Sorors is a billionaire known as regime change operator conduiting funds through "philanthropy", ONI invested $500mn in India in last one decade, MHA has been taking head-on with NGO biggies relentlessly
- "What's worse: an emotional betrayal or a physical betrayal? That's a really tough call": NIA raids offices of Krishna Hing manufacturer and its owner Asma Khan Pathan’s house in connection to suspicious transactions worth crores linked to terror funding