Probe sought into illegal sale of heritage furniture of Chandigarh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2

An investigation has been sought into the illegal sale of heritage furniture of Chandigarh at permanent shops in Switzerland.

In a letter to External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Ajay Jagga, member, Heritage Protection Cell, Chandigarh, stated that in view of the inaction on part of the Indian authorities, auctioneers have now set up shops to sell goods on a regular basis.

He said due to Covid-19, heritage auctions were not taking places over the world. So, art smugglers were now setting up permanent shops like the two in Switzerland and the one is coming at Morocco in 2021.

He said Indian embassy in Switzerland and North Africa be asked to step in and attempt to stall illegal sale of Chandigarh heritage items. It should be probed as to how these banned items went beyond Indian territory.