India Condemns Theft Of Mahatma Gandhi Statue In Australia, Seeks Swift Action

Last Updated:February 03, 2026, 18:24 IST

The 426-kg bronze statue, a gift from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi, was inaugurated in 2021 by former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The theft was partially captured on the building’s CCTV cameras and was reported the following day.

India strongly condemned the vandalisation and theft of a Mahatma Gandhi statue in Australia, saying it has formally taken up the matter with Australian authorities and urged swift action to recover the statue and identify those responsible.

Ministry of External Affairs Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India “strongly condemns the vandalisation and removal" of the bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi from the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne.

“We have strongly raised the matter with Australian authorities and urged them to take immediate action to recover the missing statue and hold the culprits accountable," Jaiswal said.

The 426-kg bronze statue, a gift from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi, was inaugurated in 2021 by former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

According to The Australia Today, the statue was cut from its base using an angle grinder, leaving only the feet on the platform. The theft was partially captured on the building’s CCTV cameras and was reported the following day.

Santosh Kumar, a committee member of the Australian Indian Community Charitable Trust, said the incident has caused deep distress within the community. He said the offenders were seen wearing face masks.

Australian police are investigating the incident.

News india India Condemns Theft Of Mahatma Gandhi Statue In Australia, Seeks Swift Action

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