Thieves take an angle grinder to $60,000 Ghandi statue in Rowville, leaving only footprints

Police are on the lookout for three thieves who allegedly stole a solid bronze statue of Indian freedom fighter and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi from a charity centre in Rowville last month.

🚔 What happened? Police have alleged three unknown offenders used an angle grinder to cut down the statue of Ghandi – who led India to independence from British rule in 1947 – on Kingsley Close at about 12.50am on Monday, January 12.

• Police have begun warning scrap metal dealers to be wary of thieves attempting to sell the statue and to report any suspicious activity to police.

🗓️ How’d we get here: Since its unveiling in 2021, the statue – a gift from the Indian government – has already been vandalised once in the past.

• Former Aston MP Alan Tudge and former Deakin MP Michael Sukkar officially opened the Australian Indian Community Centre in March 2021, with federal funding contributing $2.5 million alongside a commitment of $850,000 from eight trustees.

• Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled the statue of Ghandi  – a gift from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations – in November 2021.

• Less than a day after the unveiling, the ABC reported vandals used a power tool to try to cut the head off the statue but were unsuccessful.

💰 How much is it worth? Weighing more than 400 kilograms, Australian Indian Community Charitable Trust (AICCT) founding chairperson Vasan Srinivasan said the estimated value of the statue was about $60,000, but the installation cost the centre’s board about $80,000 at the time.

• One employee at a local scrap metal dealer told the Eastern Melburnian bronze would only chase up to $10 per kilogram.

😢 Local reaction: AICCT chair Vasan Srinivasan said the local Indian community was shocked by the incident, but believed it was not fuelled by racism or hatred.

• “The statue was taken because it’s made out of solid bronze. It has a materialistic value,” Srinivasan told the Eastern Melburnian. “It is sad we lost it, but we hope to get it back. If not, we will find a way to bring another one, maybe in a year or so.”

🇮🇳 Global outcry: India Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson, Shri Randhir Jaiswal, said the government “strongly condem[s]” the act. 

• “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,” said Jaiswal.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has vision or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.