U.S hands over stolen historical Artifacts to India amid Khobragade controversy

U.S has reportedly handed over three rare antiques to the Indian Consulate on East 64th Street, which was stolen in India but was later recovered by custom officials, following a world wide search.

The retrieved artifacts worth 1.5 million dollars included a 350 pound sandstone sculpture of Vishnu and Lakshmi, dating back to the 11th or 12th century that was rated as the sixth most wanted stolen artifact by Interpol.

The remaining two artifacts included a 600-pound sculpture of "Vishnu and Parvati" and a Buddhist "Bodhisattva" or enlightened being, stolen from the Gadgach Temple in Rajasthan in 2009, New York Post reported.

The gesture was made amid tensions between India and US, over the arrest and strip search of the Indian deputy consul general in New York Devyani Khobragade, for stiffing her nanny and lying on visa forms.

Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, the Consul General of India expressed his appreciation following the US gesture and said that that the timing of the return was co-incidental, adding that it will have a positive impact.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin maintained that the return does not mean that the two countries are back to terms, saying India will move forward on its relationship with U.S after careful analysis.