Olympic gold medal stolen from hockey legend MM Somaya's Bengaluru home
Thieves broke into the New Thippasandra residence of former captain MM Somaya while his family was away in Kodagu.
Burglars stole a 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal and other sporting honours from the Bengaluru home of former Indian hockey captain MM Somaya. The theft occurred in the early hours of October 28 at his residence in New Thippasandra, according to reports by The Hindu and News18.
The incident took place while Somaya and his family were in Kodagu, having left Bengaluru on October 25. CCTV footage from a nearby property captured two unidentified men entering the house at approximately 2.34 am on October 28, The Federal reported.
The stolen items include the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal, a 1982 Asian Games silver medal, a 1986 Seoul Asian Games bronze medal, and a 1982 Champions Trophy bronze medal. Other stolen valuables include an eight-gram gold coin, a 10-gram gold bangle, two silver cups weighing 72 grams each, six silver spoons weighing 200 grams, a silver vessel weighing 80 grams, and Rs 30,000 in cash.
The total estimated value of the stolen property is Rs 3.53 lakh, though the sporting medals have no monetary value assigned to them. Somaya, a three-time Olympian and 1985 Arjuna Award winner, described the Olympic medal as an irreplaceable symbol of service to the country.
The Indiranagar police have registered a case under Sections 331(4) and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Deputy Commissioner of Police (East Division) Vikram Amte stated that two special teams have been formed to identify the suspects and recover the stolen goods.