Olympic gold medal stolen from Bengaluru home of hockey veteran M.M. Somaya
Two unidentified burglars broke into the residence of former Indian hockey captain M.M. Somaya in New Thippasandra on October 28.
Two unidentified burglars broke into the Bengaluru residence of former Indian hockey captain M.M. Somaya in the early hours of October 28, stealing his 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal and other sporting honours, according to The Hindu.
The theft occurred at his home in New Thippasandra while Somaya and his family were away in Kodagu district. CCTV footage from a neighbouring house showed two men entering the premises at approximately 2.34 a.m., with one wearing a blue shirt and the other a red shirt.
The stolen items include the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal, a 1982 New Delhi Asian Games silver medal, a 1986 Seoul Asian Games bronze medal, and a 1982 Champions Trophy bronze medal from Amsterdam.
Other stolen valuables include silver cups, silver spoons, a silver pot, gold jewellery, gold coins, and Rs 30,000 in cash. The total value of the stolen property is estimated at Rs 3.53 lakh.
Somaya, a three-time Olympian and 1985 Arjuna Award recipient, described the gold medal as an irreplaceable symbol of dedication to the country. He has written to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar seeking a thorough investigation into the theft.
The Indiranagar Police have registered a case under Sections 331(4) and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Two special teams have been formed to identify the accused and recover the stolen items.