New Delhi, Nov. 14 -- The Supreme Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to explain the delay in restoring temple artefacts and idols smuggled to museums and art galleries after a report submitted by the state's idol wing stated that in the past 12 years, only 29 idols were repatriated from foreign destinations while 75 idols remain to be brought back.

Responding to a petition alleging inaction by the state in initiating prompt measures for restoring India's cultural wealth, the state claimed that since 2012, a total of 1,745 idols and artefacts have been recovered, of which 29 were successfully recovered and repatriated from abroad.

The state's report further indicated that investigations into 440 cases are pending as on October ...