Monday 31 July 2017

Vijay Nanda Stuck in India


India's smuggling case against another American antiquities dealer (New York's Vijay Nanda released on bail after his arrest in India on suspicion of antiquities smuggling (TNN, 'Antiques smuggling: ‘Kingpin’ loaned artefacts to museum to get legal tag' Times of India Jul 31, 2017):
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which is investigating the case [...] has accused Nanda of smuggling antiquities, sculptures made of stone, terracotta, bronze, antique coins, ancient weapons and stolen heritage furniture; and selling it to auction houses in the US, Europe, south-east Asian countries and the Gulf. Export of antiques is banned. Of the 80 antiques seized, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has certified 73 as antiques. Nanda had no legal documentation or registration with the ASI as antiques dealer, the DRI had said. Among the antiques recovered were terracotta figurines from 1st century AD and bronze figurines of 'Mahishasura Mardhini' and 'Ganesha', which date to the 17th and 18th century. Nanda was arrested in February 2017 and was released in April after 60 days in custody. 
Nanda is at the moment attempting to retrieve his passport to visit his wife in the US saying she has to undergo surgery. The court however is refusing to release it, worried that if he travels to the US he will not willingly return to India to face trial. As if...


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