In a major breakthrough, the Bengaluru City Police on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, announced the recovery of eight stolen sporting medals—including the historic 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal—belonging to former Indian hockey team captain and Olympian MM Somaya.
Police arrested two habitual offenders, identified as Manikya alias Manikanta (31) and Bharat (25), near Hagalahalli Cross in Ramanagara on Monday. A local court remanded both suspects to eight days of police custody, while a search remains underway for a third accomplice.
Break-in & Recovery Operations
The burglary took place in late October 2026 at Somaya’s residence in east Bengaluru’s New Thippasandra while his family was away in Kodagu. The burglars stole cash, jewelry worth ₹3.5 lakh, and a cluster of metallic prizes without initially realizing their historical significance:
- Pawn Shop Recovery: The suspects sold one gold and one silver medal to a gold buying firm in Rajajinagar. Police seized both medals from the firm, while the remaining six medals were recovered from Manikanta’s residence in Hoskote.
- Additional Belongings Retrieved: Investigators retrieved a traditional Kodava dagger (Peechekathi), a camera, an official Olympic kit bag, and impounded the two-wheeler used during the burglary.
- Serial Offender Track Record: Manikanta, a casual laborer, faces 25 criminal cases across Karnataka and eight in Tamil Nadu, including six active non-bailable warrants.
Historic Sporting Treasures Preserved
The recovered medals span Somaya’s career representing India in international field hockey during the 1980s:
- 1980 Moscow Olympics Gold: India’s eighth and final Olympic gold medal in field hockey.
- Asian Games Medals: Silver from the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games and Bronze from the 1986 Seoul Asian Games.
- International Tournaments: Bronze from the 1982 Champions Trophy in Amsterdam, Gold from the Loiano Tournament in Italy, and participation medals from the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympics.
- Commemorative Honors: A silver medal marking the 300th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.
Expressing deep relief following the recovery, Somaya praised the investigative teams, stating, “I feel like I have won the medals all over again.” Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh announced a ₹1 lakh cash reward for the investigating team.
