Less than two months ahead of the end of his tenure, court-appointed special officer probing idol theft cases

has said the

government remains unresponsive to his request for funds to repatriate 20 stolen

, all rare bronzes worth more than Rs 500crore, from galleries abroad.

Despite several letters to former director generalof police T K Rajendran, requesting the government to take care of the expenses to proceed with investigations and repatriate the idols, the response had been lacklustre. There are more than 1,000 stolen idols in art galleries abroad worth several crores, said Pon Manickavel.

“We have sought a special amount for retrieving the idols from foreigners, which involves expenses for ferrying the stolen idols to Tamil Nadu,” he told TOI. “The state government must give an undertaking that it will defray the expenses for the purpose. I wrote letters in 20 such cases to the former DGP seeking government support for the expenses to be incurred by the foreign art galleries in bringing the stolen idols back to TN by flight, air or sea cargo,” he said. TOI could not reach Rajendran or DGP J K Tripathy.

Pon Manickavel said he was working for no remuneration and spending from his own pocket for his trips even to New Delhi to appear before the SC. “The SC has given me a job that remains unaccomplished because of interference from, and non-cooperation of, police, bureaucracy and government,” he said.

After several letters to the former DGP, a long-pending response came. “When I wrote another letter, I received a response from the DGP on the 300th day saying the police was interested in retrieving the idols and that he had sent my letters to the government. He sent the letter just days before his retirement,” the officer said.

Among the idols he is trying to retrieve are one of Saint Sundarar with wife Paravai, stolen from the Veeracholapuram Shiva temple in Villupuram district and showcased at Freer Gallery of Art in the US, and the exquisite idol of Chola dynasty queen Sembiyan Madevi.

From experience, said Vijay Kumar of India Pride Project, western museums try to deflect restitution claims even when backed by solid evidence. “In cases wherein we have insitu photos before the thefts, they tend to drag seeking actual theft date and FIR copies. Solid investigations with soft support from the ministry of culture and ministry and external affairs are crucial,” said Vijay Kumar.

Pon Manickavel said the 20 idols he was trying to repatriate were in art galleries in Australia, Singapore and the US. Twenty were stolen from Varadarajaperumal temple at Suthavalli village in Udayarpalayam taluk of Ariyalur district. Only two were returned in 2016. “We invited two investigators with the Department of Homeland Security, US. But, my request for bearing the expenses is being dragged so much that I would exit by November,” said the officer.

Urging to put aside differences, the officer said, “We have to destine our ego into the dustbin it deserves. Otherwise all investigation, prosecution and repatriation stand impeded and we will stay a defeated lot.” He may not be able to carry out all the directions of the Supreme Court before his term expires, said the officer. “We have to learn to work in unison towards a goal — repatriation of all stolen idols to TN.”