Is it legal to possess the Kalpa Vigraha?

The question of "legality" being raised with regard to this ancient statuette is obviously because of the notion that it is a "stolen artifact" as was revealed by two retired CIA agents to some media persons. The truth is that the CIA has not publicly announced its loss. Neither would they ever. That would be like admitting to having conducted human experiments on innocent and unsuspecting American citizens. It would confirm the story that was revealed by the two retired CIA agents. It would cause quite a furor! What the CIA had instead done was to send four photographs across the world to all their agents in the hope of finding the statuette at some time in the future. An alert media hooked-up and scooped the story along with the photographs, and immediately splashed it across newspapers, news-magazines and the internet. But in spite of all this publicity, neither has the CIA denied the story. There is no Interpol alert or any announcement whatsoever by the CIA. They have remained silent on the matter. So it is doubtful if any large reward awaits the finder of the statuette. The CIA obviously hopes to covertly reacquire the artifact without much publicity. If they release a statement, the Tibetans, the Nepalese or even the Indian government would lay claim on it, embroiling the ancient artifact in some legal wrangle and thereby losing all chances to retake it. Even on many occasions in the past it is seen that the CIA never admits to or makes any statement with regard to any conspiracy that involves their organization. They will not respond or react to revelations such as this, as it implicates them in legal disputes that become answerable.

The Kalpa Vigraha, if it is ever found, will be an item of curiOSity for historians, metallurgists, archaeologists, medical research and especially for collectors as it will command a very high value. In fact, the oldest Hindu idol, despite its miniature size would be hard to evaluate in terms of a price. A 28,000 years artifact is hard to come by in the best museums or auctions of the world. While it remains unclaimed there is still a chance that it will surface in some auction like the Christies, Sotheby's, Bonham or Heritage.

To answer the question posed here, there appears to be no legal problems in the possession of the Kalpa Vigraha.