Stolen Thirumangai Alwar bronze idol returns to Kumbakonam temple after nearly 70 years

In a significant development, a stolen bronze idol of Thirumangai Alwar has returned to its temple in Kumbakonam after nearly seven decades, following a meticulous investigation by the Tamil Nadu Police's Idol Wing-CID. The idol was last seen in 1967 when it was stolen along with three other idols from the Soundararaja Perumal Temple.

The investigators traced the missing Thirumangai Alwar statue to the Ashmolean Museum in the United Kingdom, where it had been acquired in 1967 from an unidentified source. After an extensive investigation, evidence was gathered, and the museum was asked to cooperate in the recovery process. The Ashmolean Museum subsequently sent a representative to verify the report, leading to the university's council acknowledging the statue's illicit removal.

In 2026, the Tamil Nadu government completed a replica and prepared it for return. The statue was handed over to the temple custodians in Chennai, who presented it at a grand procession upon its arrival in Kumbakonam. The successful return marks a breakthrough in the fight against antique theft and sets a precedent for recovering other stolen artifacts.