(a) whether the Nobel Prize Medal and some other precious items of Gurudev Ravindra Nath Tagore were stolen;
(b) if so, the details and facts of the matter reported;
(c) whether CBI is investigating the matter;
(d) if so, the findings of CBI so far in the case; and
(e) the steps taken to check such thefts from other important places?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MANIKRAO HODLYA GAVIT)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA QUESTION NO. 27 FOR 06.07.2004 REGARDING THEFT OF NOBEL PRIZE MEDAL.
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) On a complaint dated 25.03.2004 from the Registrar of Visva Bharati, Shantiniketan that some valuable items kept in the Rabindranath Memorial Museum were stolen by some unknown persons, a case was registered at Bolpur Police Station on 25.03.04 under sections 457/380 Indian Penal Code.
The Museum authority had furnished to the police a list of 52 items reported to have been stolen which included the Nobel Prize Medallion of Late Gurudev Rqabindra Nath Tagore.
(c) Yes Sir, On the request of Govt. of West Bengal, investigation of the above mentioned case was transferred to the CBI and accordingly a case was registered by the CBI on 30.3.2004.
(d) Investigation carried out so far indicates possible involvement of a professional gang.
(e) Other important places have their own security arrangements to prevent thefts. The Ministry of Culture has directed Museums/Galleries to review their security setting and prepare a security plan that can take advantage of modern technology. They have also been asked to avail the help of IB and CISF in this endeavor. Besides, it is a constitutional obligation of the State Governments to take steps to prevent occurrence of crimes including thefts within their jurisdiction, as ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects. From time to time, however, Government of India has been advising the State Governments to give more focused attention to the matter of prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crimes.