On March 30, 2025, the Department of Archaeology held a press conference to announce the return of 21 artefacts; 15 were previously part of Subash Kapoor’s collection, three paubhas were from the Navin Kumar’s collection and the Muchalinda Buddha from the Art Institute of Chicago.

This significant repatriation was made possible through the collective efforts of several individuals and organizations.

Chakra Kumar Subedi, Consul General of Nepal in New York, played a pivotal role in facilitating the return of these artefacts. Newa Guthi, USA, provided financial support and served as a key bridge in ensuring the artefacts’ safe repatriation.

Crucial evidence for the recovery of three Paubha from Navin Kumar’s private collection was supplied by Chiniya Tamrakar, taken in 1978 AD, whose photograph proved instrumental in the process. The Itumbaha Sudhar Samiti, under the leadership of then-President Captain Chandra Bahadur Shakya and then-Secretary the late Swosti Ratna Shakya, also made significant contributions.

Key support was also extended by Erich Theophile, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust; Stephen Traux Eckerd; Saraswati Rashmi Shakya; Anil Tuladhar; Dr. Bibhakar Sundar Shakya; Nipuna Shrestha; and Ganapati Lal Shrestha. Additionally, advisors of the Nepal Heritage Recovery Campaign, Vijay Kumar and Dr. Erin Thompson, provided crucial guidance throughout the process.

The investigation that led to these returns was spearheaded by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos, Chief of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit and Senior Trial Counsel, with the support of Assistant District Attorneys Christine DiDomenico and James Edwards-Lebair. Investigative Analysts Hilary Chassé and Charlotte Looram, along with District Attorney Investigators Josellina Nardulli and John Paul Labbat, played key roles. Special Agents Robert Fromkin, Christopher Rommeney, and Brenton Easter from Homeland Security Investigations also contributed significantly to the effort.

In addition, investigative support was provided by Sanjay Adhikari of the Nepal Heritage Recovery Campaign, Sarita Subedi of the Department of Archaeology under Nepal’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Civil Aviation, and Pragya Ratna Shakya, President of the Keshchandra Mahavihar Conservation Society.

Special thanks to Lost Arts of Nepal for their unwavering efforts in tracking heritage artifacts lost from Nepal across museums, auction houses, and private collections.

This successful repatriation marks a critical step in Nepal’s ongoing efforts to recover and protect its cultural heritage.