17th Century Tamil Bible Stolen In 2005 Traced To London Museum After 17 Years
NDTV
The holy book was stolen by a group of foreigners 17 years ago, the Tamil Nadu Idol Wing said on Friday. It was traced with the signature of Rajah Serfoji of Tanjore in London.
It is not just idols and artefacts that are stolen from ancient temples of Tamil Nadu. Even an antiquarian Bible, said to be the world's first Tamil version and printed in coastal Tharangambadi of the State in 17th century, was not spared.
The holy book was stolen by a group of foreigners 17 years ago, the Tamil Nadu Idol Wing said on Friday.
The Wing traced the bible with the signature of Rajah Serfoji of Tanjore to a museum in London. The sleuths said it has initiated steps to restore the bible to the Saraswathi Mahal library, Thanjavur, from where it was stolen in 2005.
Though the police registered a CSR (community service register) following a complaint by the Deputy Administrator of Serfoji Palace with the Thanjavur West police station on October 10, 2005 stating that the bible was stolen, the case was treated as "closed."