Mohenjodaro ‘Dancing Girl’ replica stolen from National Museum, professor booked

“Checks were conducted immediately, and visitors were scanned. On reviewing CCTV footage, one individual was seen picking up the replica. CISF officials managed to identify the person, who was a professor, on the museum premises and nabbed him,” the police said.

The CISF — which looks after security of the museum — immediately informed the local police and handed him over to them. The statue was recovered.

As per a police officer, the professor had come with a group of students to visit the museum. This was his second visit.

During a scan, some statues, made of rocks, which were bought by them from the museum, were found in the bag — along with a replica made of metal. This replica was not for sale, the officer said.

The officer said that a case under sections 305 (e)(theft in a dwelling house or means of transportation or place of worship) and 317 (2) (receiving stolen property) has been registered at Kartavya Path Police station and the accused was further questioned.

The 4,500-year-old bronze figurine of the ‘Dancing Girl’ was excavated in 1926. Just 10.5 cm in height, the figurine is dark and completely in the nude with the exception of multiple bangles and a necklace.