18 antiquities recovered from foreign countries: govt

The government has recovered as many as 18 objects of antiquities from various countries till date, with maximum retrieval coming from the US, Lok Sabha was informed today.
India has got as many as seven objects from the US, followed by the UK (3) and Australia (2) and one antiquity each from countries, including Canada, Germany, Singapore, Holand and France.
"Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is making all efforts to recover stolen antiquities from abroad. Till date, the ASI has recovered eighteen numbers of antiquities from various countries," Sharma said in a written reply.
Most of these antiquities were voluntary returned by the respective countries, while India got few of them through court cases, he said.

To another query, Sharma said there is no estimate available with the ASI on the number of the antiquities that are illegally being smuggled outside the country.
The minister, however, said Central Bureau of Investigation has registered one case in connection with Indian antiquities stolen and sold in foreign countries since 2000.