Police are investigating the theft of a Mahatma Gandhi statue from a charity site in Melbourne’s south-east, with detectives warning scrap metal dealers to be alert to suspicious activity.
Knox Crime Investigation Unit said they are investigating after a Gandhi statue was stolen in Rowville on Monday, 12 January.
“It is believed the statue was stolen by three unknown offenders from a charity on Kingsley Close about 12.50am,” police said.
Officers have been told the offenders used an angle grinder to cut the statue. The investigation remains ongoing.
Police have warned scrap metal dealers to be wary of thieves attempting to sell the statue and to report any suspicious activity to police. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has vision, or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
The statue, located at the Australian Indian community centre premises in Rowville, holds strong cultural and symbolic meaning for the local Indian-Australian community. It was gifted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and installed in 2021, following decades of community advocacy to establish the centre as a shared cultural space in Victoria.
Community members say the latest incident has caused renewed distress. Siddharth Maitrak from Vera Lawyers said the disappearance of the statue had deeply unsettled many.
“It is with deep concern that we inform our community that the bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Australian Indian community centre premises in Rowville has gone missing,” Maitrak said.
“This statue was not just a metal figure; it was a gift from India (ICCR) and a symbol of peace and unity, inaugurated in our community in 2021. We are saddened by this act, especially as it follows the vandalism the statue suffered shortly after its installation.”
The reference to earlier damage points to a troubling pattern. Within hours of the statue’s unveiling in November 2021, the artwork was vandalised, drawing national attention and condemnation at the time. That incident, which involved the use of a power tool, was investigated by Victoria Police and shocked community leaders, who described the act as deeply offensive and out of step with Australia’s multicultural values.
The Rowville centre, recognised as the first Indian community centre in Victoria, has long served as a focal point for cultural, civic, and interfaith gatherings. The repeated targeting of the statue has raised questions within the community about the protection of cultural landmarks and the vulnerability of shared public symbols.
Police have not indicated whether the January theft is connected to the 2021 vandalism, and say inquiries are continuing as they work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the removal of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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