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Bengaluru, April 21, 2026: The Air Cargo Commissionerate in Bengaluru has achieved a significant breakthrough by intercepting an authentic 9th-century stone sculpture stolen from Nepal. The antiquity was discovered during a routine inspection of a consignment arriving at Kempegowda International Airport from Vienna, Austria.

Declared as a “Grey Stone Stele of Padmapani,” the item raised red flags regarding its legal provenance. Customs officials promptly alerted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for an expert evaluation. Following a detailed examination, ASI specialists confirmed that the artifact is a genuine 9th-century piece. Crucially, it matches the archival records of a Bodhisattva Padmapani sculpture reported stolen years ago from the Bouddha Stupa (Khasti Mahachaitya) in Kathmandu.

The Government of Nepal, upon being contacted, confirmed that the sculpture is indeed a national cultural treasure belonging to their country. This artifact was previously identified by the ‘Lost Arts of Nepal’ campaign as part of an auction scheduled at Galerie Zacke in Vienna. The sculpture is currently held under Customs control in Bengaluru, and diplomatic procedures are

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