On Tuesday, November 1, a trial court in Tamil Nadu’s Kumbakonam sentenced international antiquarian dealer Subhash Chandra Kapoor and five of his collaborators to ten years in prison. According to the state Idol Wing, the case involves a break-in in Udayarpalayam and the illicit transport of 19 ancient idols to the Art of the Past Gallery in New York, USA, valued at over Rs 94 crore.
The six defendants, Subash Chandra Kapoor, Sanjivi Asokan, Marichamy, Packiya Kumar, Sri Ram alias Ulagu, and Parthiban, were all sentenced by the Special Court Judge under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 120 B. (criminal conspiracy).
For his suspected involvement in a burglary and the unlawful export of 19 ancient idols worth a combined total of over Rs 94 crore to the Art of the Past Gallery, which is owned by him, Kapoor, a citizen of the United States, was treated as the first accused in Udayarpalayam police station. On the basis of a Red Corner Notice issued by Interpol, he was detained by the German Police on October 30, 2011, at the German Cologne Airport.
On July 13, 2012, he was turned over to Chennai’s Idol Wing police. After that, he was returned to India for trial in the Udayarpalayam case. He is currently incarcerated at Central Prison in Trichy after being remanded to judicial custody on July 14 by the judicial magistrate in Jayankondam, Ariyalur district.
Some of the stolen idols have been sold illegitimately by Kapoor to international museums and individual art collectors. According to a statement from the Idol Wing CID, “thereafter, he was arraigned as an accused in four other idol theft cases that are pending for the approval of the Government of Germany to prosecute him in these cases, as well.” At cases in Vikramangalam, Veeravanallur, Palvoor, and Virudhachalam, he is being tried.
In the past, Kapoor filed not less than seven bail applications and discharge petitions before the High Court and they were all dismissed. He had filed various applications before the trial court under one pretext or the other to delay the trial.
A total of 56 witnesses were questioned in this case. On September 29, 2021, the prosecution’s evidence was closed, and on May 9, 2022, the defense’s witnesses’ testimony was also finished.
On June 1 of this year, two further idols that Kapoor had taken were returned to India.
To recall and question 17 prosecution witnesses, Kapoor had already filed a petition with the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Kumbakonam in 2020. On December 3, 2020, the court rejected this petition. In 2021, he attempted to have the dismissal order vacated in the High Court of Madras (Madurai Bench).
