Bengaluru police recover M.M. Somaya’s 1980 Olympic gold medal, seven other international medals; two arrested

MM Somaya with the gold medal won at the hockey tournament during 1980 Moscow Olympic games. | Photo Credit: THE HINDU ARCHIVES

The Indiranagar police have arrested two habitual offenders and recovered eight international sports medals, including a gold medal won at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, which were stolen from the residence of former hockey player M.M. Somaya at B.M. Kaval in Bengaluru.

The recovered medals include the Olympic gold medal won at the 1980 Moscow Games, 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 a gold medal from the Loiano tournament in Italy. The collection also included participation medals from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1988 Seoul Olympics, besides a silver medal associated with the 300th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh.

Police also recovered a traditional dagger of the Kodava community, a camera and an Olympic kit bag, along with the two-wheeler allegedly used to commit the offence.

How the medals were stolen

The theft took place when Mr. Somaya and his family were away in their native Kodagu district. According to the complaint filed on October 28, the family had left Bengaluru on October 25. When they returned, they found that the front door lock had been broken and unidentified persons had entered the house and stolen the medals, gold and silver articles and cash.

The Indiranagar police registered a case and formed eight special teams to investigate the burglary. Acting on intelligence inputs, the police arrested two accused near Hagalahalli Cross in Ramanagara on November 9, along with the two-wheeler allegedly used in the crime.

During interrogation, the duo reportedly confessed to committing the theft along with another associate. The arrested accused have been identified as Manikya alias Manikanta (31), a labourer, and Bharat (25). Police said Manikanta has 33 criminal cases registered against him, including 25 in Karnataka and eight in Tamil Nadu. He also has three proclamation proceedings and six non-bailable warrants pending against him. Bharat is involved in two criminal cases.

The accused were produced before a court on November 10 and taken into eight days of police custody.

Olympic Gold Medallist M M Somaya during World Sports Journalists Day in Bengaluru on July 2, 2026. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

Two medals sold, recovered

During interrogation, the accused revealed that they had sold one gold medal and one silver medal to a gold-buying company in Rajajinagar. The remaining six medals and other stolen articles had been kept at the residence of one of the accused in Hoskote.

The police recovered the two medals from the Rajajinagar establishment and the remaining six medals, traditional dagger of the Kodava community, camera and Olympic bag from the accused’s residence.

Police said the theft was a random selection, with the accused allegedly breaking into the house without knowing the significance and value of the medals. Efforts are on to trace the third accused, who remains absconding.

‘I feel like I have won the medals all over again’

Expressing gratitude to the Bengaluru City Police, Somaya thanked City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh and the entire police team for recovering his prized possessions.

“I am particularly thankful to the Indiranagar Police Inspector, who reassured me from day one that the valuables would be recovered. I feel like I have won the medals all over again,” Somaya said.

City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh announced a cash reward of ₹1 lakh for the police team for cracking the case. The investigation is continuing to recover the remaining stolen property and apprehend the absconding accused.

Published - November 11, 2026 01:47 pm IST