Gandhi statue theft in Rowville, Melbourne on Feb 3, 2026

Key facts

• India condemned the vandalism and removal of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne, Victoria.
• The bronze statue, weighing around 420 kg, was unveiled on 12 November 2021 by then Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to mark 75 years of Indian independence.
• The statue was gifted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
• Victoria Police are investigating the theft for possible motives including scrap metal value, deliberate vandalism, or intimidation.
• This was the second attack on the statue; it was previously vandalised less than 24 hours after its inauguration in November 2021.
• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India has strongly raised the matter with Australian authorities and urged immediate action to recover the statue and hold culprits accountable.