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Ball State Artwork Now Party To Smuggling Investigation

David Owsley Museum of Art

A piece of art at a Ball State University museum is now involved in a controversial international theft investigation. The bronze sculpture is more than 1,000 years old and depicts the Hindu god Shiva and his bride, Parvati, the Hindu goddess of love.

But the U.S. Justice Department alleges the dealer, Subhash Kapoor, is one of the world‘s top art smugglers and temple raiders. He is currently targeted by a Justice Department investigation. Ball State Museum Director Robert La France says he’s already talked with federal authorities, but can't say much about the investigation.

The statue was sold to Ball State in 2005 -- about the same time it allegedly disappeared from an Indian temple.