Bengaluru police have cracked the burglary at the home of former India hockey captain M. M. Somaya, arresting two men and recovering eight international medals stolen last month — including the gold medal Somaya won with India's hockey team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Source: The Hindu via Apex Sports News

The burglary came to light on October 28, when Somaya and his family returned to their home in B. M. Kaval, Bengaluru, from their native Kodagu district, where they had travelled on October 25. Along with the medals, the thieves took valuables worth about Rs 3.5 lakh, including gold jewellery, silver articles and Rs 30,000 in cash, according to the police account carried by ANI.

The recovered medals span Somaya's career: the 1980 Moscow Olympic gold, a silver from the 1982 Asian Games, a bronze from the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, a bronze from the 1982 Champions Trophy in Amsterdam, a gold from the Loiano tournament in Italy, participation medals from the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympics, and a commemorative silver medal.

Source: The 420

The Indiranagar police formed eight special teams to work the case. Acting on intelligence inputs, they arrested Manikya alias Manikanta (31), a labourer, and Bharat (25) near Hagalahalli Cross in Ramanagara on November 9, along with the two-wheeler allegedly used in the crime. Police said one gold medal and one silver medal had been sold to a gold-buying company in Rajajinagar and were recovered from there on November 10, while the remaining medals and articles were found at a house in Hoskote linked to one of the accused.

Both accused were produced before a court on November 10 and remanded to eight days of police custody. Police said Manikya has a long record of earlier cases, and a search is on for a third suspect in the case.

Source: ANI via DevDiscourse

City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh handed the medals back to Somaya and announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for the police team. Somaya, a three-time Olympian who captained India at the 1988 Seoul Games, thanked the police, saying he felt he had won the Olympic medal once again.