Former Indian Hockey team captain M.M Somaya’s 1980 Olympic gold medal alongside his silver and bronze medals at the Asian Games was stolen from his residence in Bengaluru.
Former Indian Hockey player M.M. Somaya was the victim of a burglary at his own residence in Bengaluru and lost several valuables which included his Olympic Gold medal. The former player was part of India’s last field hockey gold medal-winning team that created history with a record-extending 8th triumph in the 1980 edition, which took place in Russia’s Moscow.
As per a report by Press Trust of India, the incident took place at the HAL 3rd stage area in the city of Bengaluru, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Indiranagar Police Station. Somaya was not at his residence and was travelling with his family to Kodagu when burglars broke in. Alongside the historic Olympic gold medal, Somaya’s silver medal from the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, as well as bronze medals won in the 1986 Seoul Asian Games and the 1982 Champions Trophy in Amsterdam, were also stolen.
Moreover, it has been stated in the First Information Report (FIR) that the robbers took ₹30,000 in cash as well as other gold and silver articles and gold ornaments. The total value of the stolen items has been estimated to be ₹ 3.53 lakhs as per the FIR.
Neighbours Bring Robbery To Light
With Somaya not at this residence, the incident came to light after the former Indian hockey players’ neighbours noticed that the door of his house was open. As per the report filed by the police, two individuals entered the house by breaking the door on October 28.
“Subsequently, when the CCTV footage from the neighbour’s house was examined, it was found that at around 2.34 am on October 28, two unidentified persons had entered the complainant’s house. Of the two persons, one was wearing a blue shirt and the other a red shirt,” the FIR stated.
The case has been registered at the Indiranagar Police Station ‘Under Sections 331(4) (house-trespass or house-breaking) and 305 (theft in a dwelling house, means of transportation or place of worship, among other locations) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).’
