The Indiranagar police in Bengaluru have recovered a cache of stolen international sports medals belonging to former Indian hockey star M.M. Somaya. The recovery includes his gold medal from the 1980 Moscow Olympics, along with seven other medals and various personal items taken from his residence in B.M. Kaval.
The theft occurred while Mr. Somaya and his family were visiting their native Kodagu district. According to the police, the family left Bengaluru on October 25 and discovered the break-in upon their return. They filed a formal complaint on October 28, reporting that the front door lock had been forced and that the intruders had stolen the medals, along with cash and other gold and silver articles.
Following the report, police formed eight special teams to track the perpetrators. Intelligence inputs led officers to arrest two suspects, identified as 31-year-old Manikya (also known as Manikanta) and 25-year-old Bharat, near Hagalahalli Cross in Ramanagara on November 9. The police also seized the two-wheeler allegedly used during the commission of the crime.
During interrogation, the suspects revealed they had sold one gold and one silver medal to a company in Rajajinagar, which the police subsequently recovered. The remaining six medals, a camera, an Olympic kit bag, and a traditional Kodava community dagger were found at the residence of one of the accused in Hoskote. Police noted that the theft appeared to be a random act, as the suspects were allegedly unaware of the historical value of the medals.
The arrested individuals appeared before a court on November 10 and have been remanded to eight days of police custody. Officials reported that Manikanta has 33 criminal cases against him, including 25 in Karnataka and eight in Tamil Nadu. Authorities are currently searching for a third associate who remains at large.
Key facts
- The recovered items include the 1980 Moscow Olympic gold, a 1982 Asian Games silver, a 1986 Seoul Asian Games bronze, and an Amsterdam Champions Trophy bronze.
- Other recovered medals include a gold from an Italy-based Loiano tournament and participation medals from the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympics.
- Police recovered a silver medal associated with the 300th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh along with a traditional Kodava dagger.
- The suspects were arrested on November 9, with police noting that the theft occurred between October 25 and October 28.
- Manikanta, one of the two arrested suspects, has six pending non-bailable warrants and three proclamation proceedings against him.
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