The CBI on Wednesday seized 81 artefacts suspected to have been stolen from various historic and archaeological excavation sites in the country. A businessman is being questioned for his alleged involvement.
Acting on a tip-off about the stolen antique pieces, the CBI raided a storeroom in East of Kailash where the artefacts had been kept. Subsequently, a team visited the place to verify the allegations and found that 34 of them did not have any documentation.
“Although there are registration papers related to the rest of the artefacts, we suspect that they are forged. The documents are being examined,” said an official.
The agency zeroed in on Subodh Dalal, a resident of East Patel Nagar, who allegedly owned the artefacts.
He is being interrogated to determine where the artefacts came from.
“A case has been registered against him and unknown persons under the Antiquities & Art Treasures Act and the Indian Penal Code. We are also trying to ascertain if the artefacts were being smuggled out of the country,” said the official.
The CBI will get the artefacts, which include sculptures of various deities, assessed by the Archaeological Survey of India.
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