Mahatma Gandhi Statue Stolen from Australian Indian Community Centre in Melbourne’s Rowville – MEA Strongly Condemns Theft, Urges Swift Action

New Delhi – February 3, 2026 – A brazen theft has outraged the Indian diaspora in Australia and drawn sharp condemnation from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA): a 426-kilogram bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi was vandalized and stolen from the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The incident, which took place in the early hours of January 12, 2026, has reignited concerns over the security of cultural symbols and multicultural heritage sites in the country.

According to Victoria Police, three masked offenders used an angle grinder (power tool) to sever the statue from its base around 12:50 a.m. local time, leaving only the feet attached to the foundation. The thieves loaded the main portion into a white van and fled the scene at the charity premises on Kingsley Close, Rowville. The Knox Crime Investigation Unit is leading the probe, treating it as a targeted theft—likely for scrap metal value due to the bronze composition—and has alerted scrap metal dealers across Victoria to report any suspicious large bronze items.

The statue was a cherished gift from India’s Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in New Delhi and was unveiled in 2021 by then-Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. It symbolized peace, non-violence, and the strong cultural ties between India and Australia for the local Indian-Australian community. The theft has revived memories of a previous vandalism attempt shortly after installation, heightening fears about the vulnerability of such landmarks.

India’s MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal issued a firm statement in response to media queries: “We strongly condemn the vandalisation and removal of the Mahatma Gandhi statue located at the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne, by unidentified people. 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.”

Community leaders in Melbourne’s Indian diaspora have called for the statue’s swift recovery, enhanced security measures for cultural installations, and greater protection for symbols of shared heritage. The incident has sparked broader discussions on safeguarding multicultural assets amid rising targeted crimes.

Key Details of the Theft and Ongoing Investigation

• Date & Time: Early hours of January 12, 2026, approx. 12:50 a.m. (local time).
• Location: Australian Indian Community Centre, Kingsley Close, Rowville, Victoria (Melbourne eastern suburb).
• Method: Three unidentified masked individuals used power tools (angle grinder) to cut the statue; transported away in a white van.
• Statue Details: 426 kg bronze, gifted by ICCR, unveiled by Scott Morrison in 2021.
• Investigation Status: Victoria Police Knox Crime Investigation Unit; public appeals for tips, CCTV footage, or witness information; scrap dealers notified nationwide.
• Suspected Motive: Scrap metal theft; no injuries reported.

BharatTone.com stands in solidarity with the Indian-Australian community and the global Indian diaspora during this distressing episode. The theft of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue—a universal emblem of peace—highlights the urgent need for robust safeguards for cultural icons abroad.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Victoria Police or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

Our thoughts are with the Rowville community and all who revere Bapu’s legacy. What steps should be taken to protect such symbols overseas? Share your thoughts in the comments!