Photos: Press Office of the Australian PM
By SAT News Desk
MELBOURNE, 27 November: The Australian Government will return three culturally significant artifacts during the Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s visit to India in January 2020.
The artifacts, which were held by the National Gallery of Australia (Gallery), were purchased in good faith, but extensive research undertaken by the Gallery has led to its decision to voluntarily return these artifacts to India, says a media release from the Australian Prime Minister’s office.
The artifacts being returned are:
· Pair of door guardians (dvarapala) 15th Century, Tamil Nadu, India – (two works); and
· The serpent king (Nagaraja) 6th to 8th Century, Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh, India.
Criminal law proceedings are currently underway in India and the United States against former New York art dealer Mr. Subhash Kapoor, from whom these artifacts were purchased. The Australian Government does not have any role in these proceedings, says the media release.
