New Delhi, Mar 24: In a major haul, CBI has conducted a raid along with officials of the Archaeological Survey of India on the godowns of a capital-based firm allegedly dealing in the sale and purchase of antiquities and seized nine precious paintings of Raja Ravi Verma worth more than Rs one crore. Acting on a tip-off, sleuths of the agency raided the Sunder Nagar and Defence Colony godowns of the firm in south Delhi and seized Ravi Verma's paintings including 'Mohini and Sita in Exile', 'Image of Rama After Banishment From Ayodhya, 'Bal Krishan and Yashoda', 'Shankar', 'Vitobha and Rukumayai', a CBI spokesman said here today. The seized paintings also include portraits of 'Nizam of Hyderabad (Mir Mehboob Ali Khan-Asaf Jahi Six)', 'Shri Dattatreya', 'Ganesha with Companions', 'Krishna Killing His Uncle', 'Rama Breaking the Bow' and also a nude painting by P Gerhardt, the spokesman said.

During the raid, it was found that the firm had earlier allegedly sold about 73 precious paintings through auctions in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore without the mandatory licence and permission from ASI, he said.

A case has been registered and investigation was in progress the spokesman said adding that no arrest has been made.

Bureau Report