From India to New York and Back Again: The Met Museum Announces to Return15 Looted Antiquities

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, renowned for its annual fundraising gala that draws celebrities from around the world, has made a noteworthy announcement. The museum is set to return 15 sculptures to India, amidst allegations of notorious smuggler Subhash Kapoor selling over 77 Indian antiquities to the institution.  The New York Supreme Court issued a search warrant against the Metropolitan Museum of Art after these revelations came to light. In response, the museum stated that it is reviewing its dealings with 'suspected' dealers and has been in touch with the Government of India to resolve the matter. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is committed to the responsible acquisition of archaeological art and applies rigorous provenance standards to both new acquisitions and works in its collection. The museum values its long-standing relationships with the government of India and is pleased to resolve this matter, according to a statement from the institution. The museum had contacted Homeland Security in 2015 regarding its works from Kapoor and is now acting on the matter as a result of the criminal investigation into Kapoor by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Justice Felicia A. Mennin of the NY Supreme Court had issued a search warrant against 15 items supplied by Kapoor to the museum, including an 11th-century sandstone Celestial Dancer (Apsara) from Madhya Pradesh valued north of $1 million and a first-century BCE Yakshi Terracotta from West Bengal. Subhash Kapoor, the smuggler, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Indian court under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. Kapoor has been accused of selling numerous artefacts that were looted from temples, ruins, and archaeological sites in India. The decision to return these sculptures to their country of origin is a significant step towards acknowledging the importance of preserving cultural heritage and honoring ethical practices in the art world.