The ancient Thirumangai Alwar bronze idol stolen from Kumbakonam was recovered from England and presented to the Chief Minister.

Press Release No : 553 Date: 18.08.2026 PRESS RELEASE Ancient Bronze Idol of Thirumangai Alwar Stolen from Kumbakonam Temple Recovered from England and Brought Back to Tamil Nadu – Inspected by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru S. Joseph Vijay Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru S. Joseph Vijay inspected the antique bronze idol of Thirumangai Alwar at the Secretariat on 17.08.2026, which was stolen from Arulmigu Soundararajaperumal Temple in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, and successfully recovered from England. A complaint was lodged on 12.02.2020 by the Executive Officer regarding the theft of four precious idols—the bronze idol of Thirumangai Alwar and metal idols of Kalinga Narthana Krishna, Vishnu, and Sridevi—stolen between 1957 and 1967. Investigation by the Idol Wing CID traced the Thirumangai Alwar idol to the Ashmolean Museum of Oxford University, UK (acquired in 1967 from an unknown vendor), while other idols were traced to museums in San Francisco, Florida, and Texas. Following scientific provenance documentation submitted to UK authorities, Oxford University agreed to deaccession and return the idol. Through coordinated diplomatic efforts involving the TN Idol Wing CID, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Culture, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the idol was repatriated to Tamil Nadu on 16.08.2026. DGP Thiru Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, IPS, and ADGP (Idol Wing) Tmt. D. Kalpana Nayak, IPS, presented the idol to the Hon'ble Chief Minister, who congratulated the team. The idol will be reinstalled at the temple for public worship following legal procedures. •••••••••• Issued By: - DIPR, Secretariat, Chennai – 9