Key points
- Bengaluru police recovered all eight international medals stolen from former India hockey player M.M. Somaya's residence, including his 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal.
- Two accused, identified as Manikya alias Manikanta, 31, and Bharat, 25, were arrested near Hagalahalli Cross in Ramanagara on November 9.
- Police said the medals included the 1980 Olympic gold, a 1982 Asian Games silver, a 1986 Asian Games bronze and a 1982 Champions Trophy bronze.
- The recovered collection also included a gold medal from the Loiano tournament in Italy, participation medals from the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympics, and a silver medal linked to Guru Gobind Singh's 300th birt
- Police recovered two medals from a gold-buying company in Rajajinagar and the remaining six from an accused person's residence in Hoskote.
- A third alleged accomplice remains absconding; the two arrested men were remanded to eight days of police custody.
Bengaluru police have recovered former India hockey player M.M. Somaya's 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal and seven other international medals that were stolen from his residence. Two men have been arrested in connection with the burglary, while police are searching for a third alleged accomplice.
The Indiranagar police recovered all eight medals along with other stolen articles, including a traditional Kodava dagger, a camera and an Olympic kit bag. Somaya thanked the police after the recovery, saying he felt as though he had won the medals all over again.
Eight international medals recovered
The recovered collection includes the gold medal Somaya won as part of India's men's hockey team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Other medals include a silver from the 1982 Asian Games, a bronze from the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul and a bronze from the 1982 Champions Trophy in Amsterdam.
The remaining honours include a gold medal from the Loiano tournament in Italy, participation medals from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and a silver medal associated with the 300th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh. The recovery therefore covered eight medals with links to Somaya's international career and sporting history.
Police said two of the medals had been sold to a gold-buying company in Rajajinagar. The remaining six were kept at the residence of one of the accused in Hoskote. Investigators recovered the two medals from the business and the other six from the Hoskote residence.
Two arrested, third accused remains absconding
The accused were identified as Manikya, also known as Manikanta, a 31-year-old labourer, and Bharat, aged 25. Police arrested them near Hagalahalli Cross in Ramanagara on November 9, along with the two-wheeler allegedly used in the burglary. The two were produced before a court on November 10 and remanded to eight days of police custody.
According to police, the two men allegedly confessed to carrying out the theft with another associate. The third person remains absconding, and efforts are continuing to trace him. Police also said the accused had allegedly selected the house without knowing the sporting significance of the medals.
The investigation began after Somaya's family returned from Kodagu and found that the front door lock had been broken. The family had left Bengaluru on October 25. A complaint was filed on October 28 after the break-in was discovered, and the Indiranagar police formed eight special teams to investigate the case.
Somaya: 'I feel like I have won the medals all over again'
Somaya expressed gratitude to Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh and the officers involved in recovering the medals. He particularly thanked the Indiranagar police inspector, saying the officer had reassured him from the first day that the stolen valuables would be recovered.
“I feel like I have won the medals all over again,” Somaya said after the recovery. The remark reflected the personal value of the collection, especially the Olympic gold medal won as part of India's hockey triumph at the 1980 Moscow Games.
Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh announced a cash reward of ₹1 lakh for the police team that cracked the case. The recovery included not only the medals but also the other articles reported stolen from Somaya's residence.
A three-time Olympian and 1980 gold medallist
Somaya represented India at three Olympic Games: Moscow in 1980, Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988. He was captain of the Indian team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and received the Arjuna Award in 1985.
The 1980 Olympic gold medal holds a particular place in Indian men's hockey history. Somaya had earlier described it as India's last Olympic gold medal in men's hockey and said it represented years of dedication and service to the country. Its recovery therefore brought back an important personal sporting honour as well as a piece of India's Olympic history.
The police operation has resulted in the recovery of all eight medals and the other reported articles, according to the police account. The investigation remains active as officers work to locate the third alleged accomplice and complete the remaining legal procedures.
Police investigation continues
The arrests and recovery brought relief to Somaya and his family after the burglary at their Bengaluru home. Police said the stolen medals had been traced through information obtained during the investigation, including the details about the two medals sold in Rajajinagar and the six stored in Hoskote.
With two suspects in custody and the medals recovered, the next step for investigators is to trace the third alleged participant. The case has also drawn attention to the historical and emotional importance of sporting memorabilia, particularly medals earned while representing India at the Olympic Games.
Frequently asked questions
Whose 1980 Olympic gold medal was recovered in Bengaluru?
Bengaluru police recovered the 1980 Moscow Olympics hockey gold medal belonging to former India international M.M. Somaya. The medal was stolen from his Bengaluru residence along with seven other international medals and personal valuables while Somaya and his family were away in their native Kodagu district.
How many medals were recovered from M.M. Somaya's house theft?
Police recovered eight international sports medals in total, including Somaya's 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal. Two medals were traced to a gold-buying company in Rajajinagar, while six others were recovered from the residence of one of the accused in Hoskote.
Who was arrested in the M.M. Somaya medal theft case?
The arrested men were identified by police as Manikya, also known as Manikanta, aged 31, and Bharat, aged 25. They were apprehended near Hagalahalli Cross in Ramanagara on November 9. Police said a third alleged associate was involved and remained absconding.
Which medals belonging to M.M. Somaya were recovered?
The recovered collection included the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold, a 1982 Asian Games silver, a 1986 Asian Games bronze, a 1982 Champions Trophy bronze and a Loiano tournament gold. It also included participation medals from the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympics and another silver medal.
What did M.M. Somaya say after the medals were recovered?
Somaya thanked Bengaluru City Police and the officers who handled the investigation. He said he felt as though he had won the medals all over again. The former India captain also highlighted the personal and national significance of the Olympic gold and the memories attached to the medals.