Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. has announced the return of 20 stolen Nepali antiquities, collectively valued at more than $3 million, to Nepal. These artifacts were recovered through extensive investigations by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office into international trafficking networks, including those linked to the notorious antiquities smuggler Subhash Kapoor.
For over a decade, the District Attorney’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit (ATU), in collaboration with law enforcement partners, has been actively investigating Kapoor and his network for the alleged looting, illegal exportation, and sale of priceless artifacts from South and Southeast Asia. Kapoor, who has been the subject of an arrest warrant since 2012, is currently awaiting extradition from India. The investigation has already resulted in the convictions of five individuals, with extradition proceedings underway for five more suspects.
“The people of Nepal have fought for the return of these prized antiquities for decades, and I am thrilled that our long-term investigation has resulted in their return,” said District Attorney Bragg. “These trafficking networks are extensive and complex, but we will continue our work to dismantle them and undo the harm they have created.”
Among the significant pieces being repatriated are the Portrait of Gaganshim Bharo with His Wives, the Figure of Buddha, and the Stone Goddess.
The paubha (a traditional Newar religious painting), titled Portrait of Gaganshim Bharo with His Wives, dates back to approximately 1450–1474 C.E. It depicts Gaganshim Bharo, a military governor, performing an unknown ritual alongside two of his wives. Stolen from the Itumbaha Monastery in Kathmandu during a 1980 break-in, the artwork was smuggled out of Nepal and passed through Switzerland before reaching a New York County-based antiquities dealer in 1982.
Despite federal investigations in 2003, the paubha remained with the dealer until 2024, when members of the Nepali community sought the ATU’s assistance. Within two months, all three Itumbaha paubhas were successfully seized.
The black stone statue of Buddha Sakyamuni, dating to the 9th century C.E., was stolen from a stupa in Bungamati, Nepal, in the late 1970s. It resurfaced in the 1980s with a dealer in London, who later sold it to an American collector. The artifact was last offered for sale at Christie’s New York in 2015 before being donated to the University of Michigan Art Museum, from where the ATU recovered it in 2024.
The Stone Goddess statue, likely representing either the Hindu goddess Parvati or Lakshmi, was originally documented in a 1975 photograph taken at the Vishnu Devi Temple Complex in Kathmandu by Austrian architect Carl Pruscha. The artifact was later shipped to New York from Switzerland in 1984. It was acquired by prominent New York-based collector Robert Hatfield Ellsworth and remained in his estate’s possession until it was seized by the ATU in 2025.
Since taking office, District Attorney Bragg has overseen the recovery of more than 2,275 stolen antiquities from 39 countries, valued at over $250 million. Since its inception, the Antiquities Trafficking Unit has successfully recovered almost 6,000 antiquities worth approximately $465 million, with more than 5,450 of these items repatriated to 29 countries.
This latest operation was led by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos, Chief of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit and Senior Trial Counsel, with assistance from Assistant District Attorneys Christine DiDomenico and James Edwards-Lebair. Investigative Analysts Hilary Chassé and Charlotte Looram, District Attorney Investigators Josellina Nardulli and John Paul Labbat, as well as Special Agents Robert Fromkin, Christophe Rommeney, and Brenton Easter of Homeland Security Investigations, played key roles in the process.
The successful recovery and repatriation of these antiquities were made possible through the cooperation of numerous individuals and institutions. Notable contributions were made by Sanjay Adhikari of the Nepal Heritage Recovery Campaign, Sarita Subedi of Nepal’s Department of Archaeology, and Pragya Ratna Shakya, President of the Keshchandra Mahavihar Conservation Society.
Other significant support came from Erich Theophile, Executive Director of the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust, and scholars including Captain Chandra Bahadur Shakya, Saraswati Rashmi Shakya, Stephen T. Eckerd, Anil Tuladhar, Dr. Erin Thompson, and Dr. Bibhakar Sunder Shakya.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office also extended gratitude to the Navin Kumar Gallery, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art for their assistance in facilitating the return of these cultural treasures to Nepal.
Last week, the Art Institute of Chicago, in partnership with the Government of Nepal, announced the return of the significant sculpture Buddha Sheltered by the Serpent King Muchalinda to its original location in Nepal.
As part of ongoing efforts to investigate the origins of its collection, the Art Institute uncovered new details about the sculpture’s history and shared them with the Embassy of Nepal in Washington, D.C. After joint discussions, it was confirmed that the sculpture had been stolen from Guita Bahi in the Kathmandu Valley, and the decision was made to return it to Nepal.
“This return highlights the importance of provenance research and the Art Institute’s proactive engagement and collaboration with countries and communities,” said Jacques Schuhmacher, Executive Director of Provenance Research at the Art Institute. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with our Nepalese colleagues to return this object to its place of origin and look forward to future collaborations.”
This 12th-century Nepali sculpture tells the story of divine protection, with the serpent king Muchalinda shielding the Buddha from a storm, allowing him to continue his meditation. It has been on display at the museum since 1997 and featured in major exhibitions.
Sharad Raj Aran, Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Nepal, remarked, “This sacred sculpture carries the stories, traditions, and values that define Nepal’s religious and cultural identity. Its return strengthens the connection between heritage and community, ensuring that future generations can engage with their history. We appreciate the collaboration with the Art Institute in making this return possible and look forward to continued cooperation in cultural preservation and exchange.”
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
