Bronze sculpture of a dancing Shiva and an Ardhanariswara stone sculpture will be returned to India
Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbot has carried with him on his visit to India, two antique statues that were allegedly looted from temples in Tamil Nadu. He will hand them over to Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.
The 11th or 12th century bronze sculpture of a dancing Shiva and an Ardhanariswara stone sculpture were removed from display in Australian museums earlier this year amid allegations that they were stolen from Indian temples.
The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra had bought the dancing Shiva for $5 million in 2008 from New York art and antiquities dealer Subhash Kapoor. The Ardhanariswara, also linked to Kapoor, ended up in the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.
In March this year, India requested that the works be returned and Australia agreed, with Abbott instructing that they be brought on his two-day trip for presentation to Mr Modi.
The National Gallery of Australia is suing Kapoor and his company in New York. The gallery says it was "fraudulently induced" to buy the statue.
Kapoor, who is in prison in India where he faces charges over an alleged art scam, has claimed the statue had been sold to him by the wife of a diplomat, the gallery said. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Returning the objects "is testimony to Australia's good citizenship on such matters and the importance with which Australia views its relationship with India", Mr Abbott's office said.
Tony Abbott and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today will also sign a deal under which Australia will to supply uranium nuclear fuel to India.