One held, rare idols and artefacts seized

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, OCT. 4. The Bangalore City police have arrested one person and recovered 173 antiques, including rare bronze idols, artefacts and manuscripts, worth crores of rupees.

The City Crime Branch (CCB) officials had been tipped off about the sale of antiques of the 18th century. The articles seized are worth crores of rupees. Some of them are rare pieces of art, including exquisite images in brass and bronze of elephants, tigers, lions, horses and cows, wooden idols and panchaloha idols.

The CCB officials came to know that Gandugali Nayaka of Chitradurga, who claimed to be a direct descendent of Madakari Nayaka, the legendary chieftain of Chitradurga in the 18th century, was clandestinely selling rare antiques and other artefacts belonging to the 18th century and earlier periods, to some persons, including foreigners.

The racket came to light when the CCB officials were tipped off that a person by the name of Devkumar Nayak was selling rare artefacts at a hotel in High Grounds. They arrested Devkumar. During interrogation, he said the artefacts had been given to him by Gandugali Nayaka of Chitradurga, and that he was an agent working for Gandugali Nayaka in the sale and disposal of antiques.

On October 3, the CCB officials raided the residence of Gandugali Nayaka located within the Chitradurga Fort, and seized artefacts and manuscripts depicting life during the reign of Madakari Nayaka. A manuscript in Malayalam, dating back to the 18th Century, was also recovered.

Investigations revealed that Gandugali Nayaka was selling the artefacts through Devkumar Nayak. While 40 antiques were seized from the vicinity of a hotel in High Grounds, 133 articles were seized from Gandugali's residence in Chitradurga.

Gandugali Nayaka reportedly told the police that he was a direct descendent of Madakari Nayaka, and that he had inherited antiques and artefacts from his ancestors. Contesting his claim, the CCB officials said Gandugali did not have the licence or papers permitting him to sell antiques. Nor did he have the permission of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).

In 1997, Gandugali Nayaka had set up a ``museum'' in his house and exhibited scores of antiques and artefacts. The museum was reportedly fetching Gandugali Rs. 2,000 per day. The museum is now closed, and the police suspect that he sold 2,000 antiques during the last three years.

The CCB officials said they were verifying the claims of Gandugali Nayaka that he was a direct descendant of Madakari Nayaka. He also claimed to be the personal secretary of a film actress. The officials said Gandugali had collected antiques by claiming to make a film on the life and times of Madakari Nayaka. Efforts are being made to trace the owners of the 2,000 items that Gandugali sold.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. T. Madiyal, said that even if Gandugali's claims that he was the direct descendent of Madakari Nayaka were true, he could not sell the antiques. He would be required to obtain a licence from the Government about the ownership of the artefacts.

Gandugali, a farmer by profession, has not been arrested as he is under treatment in a hospital in Bangalore. Police suspect that Gandugali was selling the artefacts to meet his medical expenses. A case has been booked under the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act of 1972 in High Grounds police station.

The Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjuna Kharge, who viewed the exhibits displayed in the office of the Commissioner of Police, said the City police had been doing good work and had solved several sensational cases in the last few months.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : 'Khazana Museum' attracts few visitors
Next     : Rajkumar's kidnap has not affected
           administration: CM