The CBI today claimed to have seized over 81 antique statues estimated to be worth crores of rupees, some of them believed to be dating back to over hundreds of years, from a godown in South Delhi, officials said today.
They said the agency, along with officials of the Archaeological Survey of India, searched the premises on a tip-off that a person named Subodh Dalal allegedly kept these statues, which were recovered from various excavation sites, for selling to his clients.
During searches, 81 antique statues were found at the godown in East of Kailash area, they said.
When he was being questioned, Dalal produced registration certificates for 47 of these statues which were said to be questionable by the officials of the ASI on the basis of serial numbers and other details, they said.
The CBI officials said 34 statues did not have any registration certificate and when questioned, Dalal, a resident of East Patel Nagar, said he would apply for their registration soon.
The CBI has booked Dalal and unidentified others and seized all the statues, they said.
They said the evaluation of the statues is going on and details about their international market price and age can be shared after thorough examination by the experts of the ASI.
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