Australia's National Museum to Return 900-year-old Nataraja Murti to India

A 900-year-old Nataraja Murti which was stolen from India will be returned to India. Nataraja, the dancing murti of Shiva, is currently in Australia's National Museum. The murti was purchased from a person now arrested for stealing several murtis of Hindu Gods and Goddesses from various temples in India.

The Telegraph reports 

Australia’s national art museum will return a prized 900-year-old dancing Shiva to India after it emerged the £2.8 million statuette – purchased from disgraced international art dealer Subhash Kapoor – was stolen and smuggled out of south India.

The National Gallery of Australia has for months resisted Indian pleas to return the sculpture and other works which Indian officials insisted were stolen.

But the gallery has now accepted the items were stolen after Kapoor’s New York-based assistant admitted to involvement in the sale of 150 looted items, some of which dated back 2,000 years.