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Centre set to reopen Tagore’s Nobel medallion theft case

The decision taken by the new government has invited mass applauds from all spheres especially from the people of West Bengal and the followers of Tagore, who are promoting his thought and ideology across the world.

Speaking to the Millennium Post minister of culture Shripad Yesso Naik said, ‘We are looking in to the current status of the case and re-opening the sensational case cannot be ruled out keeping the sentiments of large number of people associated with Tagore and his work.’

When asked to comment whether the medallion theft case was given its due importance or not by the previous government and when the new NDA government will pursue the case further, ‘The issue is in our agenda and I will soon look in to files. The concern departments and agencies will be contacted to discuss on how to initiate a fresh probe.’

Recently, prime minister Narendra Modi has given a clear signal that his government will take tough stand on bringing back the stolen or lost artifacts of India by re-securing the possession of two antique statues of Hindu deities which were allegedly stolen from temples in Tamil Nadu before being bought by art galleries in Australia.

On 5 September, Australian prime minister Tony Abbott handed over the antique statues (Nataraja-the dancing lord Shiva-which belonged to the Chola dynasty of 11th-12th century and the other sculpture is of Ardhanariswara, which represents Shiva in half-female form, and dates back to 10th century)to Narendra Modi Naik said, ‘It is our responsibility to bring back all the lost or stolen artifacts, which belongs to India. Tagore’s Nobel is one of them and we will try our best to pursue the case further.’

Earlier, on 25 March, 2004, the theft of the medallion and 47 other memorabilia including Tagore’s gold watch, ornaments, and ivory artifacts was first came to light. The theft took place at the Uttarayan complex of Visva Bharati University.

Tagore had received the Nobel Prize in 1931 for literature. After five days of theft, the CBI formally started an investigation on 30 March, 2004. The CBI after three years of fruitless probe closed the case on 30 August, 2007 and reopened it on 18 September, 2008 in the midst of pressures from political parties and believer of Tagore.

Later, after one year on 23 August, 2009, the CBI again decided to close down the case due to lack of significant clue and a formal letter was also sent to the former Vice Chancellor of the university Rajat Kanta Roy.

The closer of Nobel theft case angered the university staffs and a section of politicians who expressed their sorrow and raised several questions on the capabilities of the one of the most premiere investigation agencies in India.

Then Union railway minister Mamata Banerjee reacted strongly the way CBI shuts down the investigation and demanded immediate reopening of the case. ‘I will be in Delhi and I will request the prime minister to reopen the case as it is a matter of pride for the people of Bengal. We want those who are behind the theft should be arrested by any means,’ Mamata had said.

Now with the decision to have a re-look in to the case by the BJP led government, the move is certainly going to have some impact in the poll arithmetic in Bengal, which the party president Amit Saha is monitoring personally.
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