Bengaluru police have recovered former hockey player M.M. Somayya’s 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal and seven other international medals stolen from his residence, along with other valuables, and returned them to the former India player. Two people have been arrested in connection with the burglary, while another alleged participant remains absconding, according to a report by Vijay Karnataka.
The theft took place at Somayya’s residence in B.M. Kaval after he and his family left for his hometown in Kodagu on October 25. The house was unoccupied when the burglars entered and took eight international sports medals, gold jewellery, cash and other valuable items. Somayya discovered the theft after returning and filed a police complaint on October 28.
Indiranagar police registered a case and formed eight special teams to investigate it. Acting on intelligence inputs, the police arrested two suspects near Hagalahalli Cross in Ramanagara on November 9. A two-wheeler allegedly used in the burglary was also seized.
During questioning, the suspects reportedly told the police that one gold medal and one silver medal had been sold to a gold-buying company in Rajajinagar. The remaining six medals and other stolen articles were allegedly kept at the house of one of the accused in Hoskote. In coordination with Rajajinagar police, investigators recovered the two medals that had been sold and retrieved the remaining items from Hoskote.
The recovered property included the gold medal won by India at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, a silver medal from the 1982 Asian Games, a bronze medal from the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, a bronze medal from the 1982 Champions Trophy in Amsterdam and gold medals from the Loiano tournament in Italy. Participation medals from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1988 Seoul Olympics were also recovered, along with a silver medal linked to the 300th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.
Police also recovered a traditional Kodava dagger, a camera and an Olympic bag. The source report said the police were continuing efforts to locate the remaining alleged accused.
Somayya thanked Bengaluru police for recovering the medals, saying they represented not only his personal achievements but also the honour of Karnataka and India. He specifically acknowledged the efforts of Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, former East Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr Vikram, the Halasuru Assistant Commissioner of Police, Inspector Anand and the Indiranagar police team. Somayya said the recovery made him feel as though he had won an Olympic medal again.
