Australia and US agree to return idols stolen from 5 temples

Tamil Nadu: Australia and the United States have agreed to return ancient idols stolen from Tamil Nadu temples and smuggled into Australia and the United States to the Tamil Nadu government.

The Idol Smuggling Prevention Unit of the police is continuously engaged in identifying and recovering idols, antiques, and art treasures stolen from Tamil Nadu and smuggled abroad, and is identifying the criminals involved.

In this regard, idols stolen from Tamil Nadu temples have been found in major international institutions and auction houses in countries including Australia and the US. The Idol Smuggling Prevention Unit has attempted to recover them. Following this, the Australian and US governments have agreed to return the idols to Tamil Nadu. Accordingly, the Australian government has offered to return the Trishula Mangala Kali (Bhadrakali) idol worth approximately ₹2 crore from the Kailashnath temple in Kaduvankudi village, Tiruvarur district, and the ancient Nandi stone idol worth approximately ₹4 crore from the same temple.

Similarly, the Australian government has agreed to formally return to India, from the National Gallery of India in Canberra, the six-headed idol of Skanda Karthikeyan (Subramaniyar) from the Arulmigu Naganathasamy Temple in Manambadi village of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, worth around Rs 2 crore.