The central government on Wednesday handed over the bronze statues of Lord Rama, Lakshmana, and Mata Sita to the Tamil Nadu government. During a ceremony at the Archaeological Department of India (ASI) headquarters here, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlada Patel handed over these stolen idols to the Tamil Nadu government 20 years ago. These sculptures were recovered in Britain.
The London Metropolitan Police handed over the idols to the Indian High Commission after seizing them on 15 September. Patel was also present as the chief guest at the event through a video link. On Wednesday, Patel congratulated the Indian High Commission in London for this and thanked the London Metropolitan Police.
In August last year, the Indian High Commission was informed by the Bharat Pride Project that four ancient idols of Lord Rama, Mata Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman have been brought to the UK through smuggling after being stolen from the Vijayanagar carpet temple in Tamil Nadu. The High Commission had sought help from the London Metropolitan Police for the recovery of these idols.