Life term for art smuggler

A Jaipur fast-track court on Wednesday sentenced 60-year-old Vaman Ghiya, the kingpin of India’s largest arts and antiquities smuggling ring, and an accomplice to life imprisonment and 14 others to various jail terms for their involvement in a multi-crore smuggling operation. The racket came to light on June 6, 2003, when the Jaipur police raided Ghiya’s house and found in his possession several pieces of valuable Indian artefacts some of which were even sold to auction houses Sotheby’s and Christie’s in London.

Special public prosecutor in the case B M Gohil stated that fast-track court judge Phoolchand Jhajdiya sentenced Ghiya and his right-hand man Banne Singh to life imprisonment under Section 413 of the Indian Penal Code for habitually dealing with stolen property. “This is probably the first conviction under this section,” said Gohil, adding that the 14 other accused were sentenced to jail terms ranging between four months and three years with fines up to Rs 50,000.