Jaipur, June 27: As many as 300 antiques have been seized by Rajasthan police from an export warehouse allegedly belonging to V N Ghiya, who is currently in police custody on charges of running an antique smuggling racket. The seized antiques included 40 carved pillars from the 11th century and 34 rare paintings of the Mughal period, police said. Investigation so far revealed that Ghiya, who runs a handicraft emporium here, was allegedly supplying at least two truckloads of artefacts every two or three months to buyers abroad from the export house named "Indian Crafts" in Delhi from whose warehouse the goods were seized, superintendent of police, Jaipur north, Anand Srivastava, said. Police first tracked the transport company through which Ghiya sent the 37 cartons between June two and six to Indian craft in Delhi which also received two boxes of artefacts from Hyderabad also allegedly sent by Ghiya's men.
The entire consignment was in the final stages of getting clearance for export when the police seized it, Srivastava said.

Police is now trying to find out from where the accused received the antiques.

Police had busted the racket earlier this month by arresting Ghiya and six others who are now under judicial custody.

Bureau Report