Bengaluru Police recover 1980 Olympics gold medal stolen from M.M. Somaya
Synopsis
Bengaluru Police have returned a piece of Indian sporting history — M.M. Somaya's 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal, three other championship medals, and ₹3.5 lakh in valuables — just two weeks after a brazen pre-dawn burglary. The 78-year-old hockey legend said the recovery felt like winning the gold all over again.
Key Takeaways
Bengaluru Police recovered all medals and valuables stolen from former Indian hockey captain M.M.
Somaya's Indiranagar home.
The haul included his 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal , a 1982 Asian Games silver , two bronzes from the 1986 Asian Games and 1982 Champions Trophy , and valuables worth ₹3.5 lakh .
Two accused — Manikya alias Manikanta (31) and Bharat alias Darli (25) — were arrested near Hegganahalli cross on 9 November .
Manikya has 28 prior cases and six non-bailable warrants ; Bharat faces murder and theft charges.
A third suspect remains at large; police have launched a search.
Former Indian hockey captain and 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medalist M.M. Somaya has had his stolen medals and valuables fully recovered after Bengaluru Police cracked a burglary case, arresting two accused on 9 November 2026. The recovery prompted an emotional Somaya to say he felt as though he had won his Olympic gold medal all over again.
What Was Stolen
Burglars broke into Somaya's Indiranagar residence in Bengaluru at approximately 2.34 a.m. on 28 October, while he and his family had travelled to his native Madikeri in Kodagu for a holiday. The thieves made off with four sporting medals — Somaya's 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal, a silver medal from the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games, a bronze medal from the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, and a bronze medal from the 1982 Amsterdam Champions Trophy. They also took valuables worth approximately ₹3.5 lakh, including a 10-gram gold bangle, an 8-gram gold coin, two silver cups weighing 144 grams, six silver spoons, an 80-gram silver pot, and ₹30,000 in cash.
How the Case Was Cracked
A neighbour alerted Somaya's family to the break-in, prompting them to return to Bengaluru and file a complaint at the Indiranagar police station on 28 October. Investigators reviewed CCTV footage from an adjacent property, which showed two men — one in a blue shirt, the other in a red shirt — forcing open the door. The Indiranagar Police, working under DCP East Vikram Amathe, the ACP of Halasuru, and Inspector Balakrishna, traced and apprehended the accused near Hegganahalli cross on 9 November. All stolen medals, valuables, and cash were recovered.
The Accused
The two men arrested have been identified as Manikya alias Manikanta (31), a labourer, and Bharat alias Darli (25), a resident of Banashankari. According to police, Manikya carries 28 prior cases and six non-bailable warrants across Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Bharat is facing both murder and theft charges. Police said the accused are habitual offenders and that a hunt is on for a third suspect linked to the case.
Somaya's Reaction and Police Response
'I am extremely grateful to the Bengaluru Police, headed by Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, who have worked really hard over the last few days. They have recovered not only the medals but also valuables stolen from my residence,' Somaya said. He added: 'From the first day, they reassured us that the medals would be recovered because they are an honour not only for me personally but also for the state and the country. The Indiranagar Police have done a magnificent job. I feel I have won the Olympic medal once again.'
Somaya reflected on what the medals represent: 'In those days, there were no monetary benefits as it was an amateur sport. Winning a medal itself was an honour for me, the state and the country. These medals carry a lot of memories and sentiments, which makes them very special to me. I am happy they are back with me.'
Commissioner Singh called it a privilege to hand the medals back to the hockey legend, noting that the absence of initial clues made the investigation 'one of the most challenging cases for the team.' He said police would take steps to ensure the habitual offenders do not continue their criminal activities. A third accused in the case remains at large.
Point of View
But the episode raises a larger question: should the government maintain secure archival or institutional custody of Olympic and Asian Games medals belonging to retired athletes, particularly those living alone or in unguarded residences? One pre-dawn burglary nearly erased four decades of irreplaceable sporting history. That the accused had combined prior cases running into the dozens underscores the broader challenge of recidivist crime in Bengaluru's urban sprawl — a problem that CCTV coverage, however useful here, can only partially address.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medals were stolen from M.M. Somaya?
Four medals were stolen: Somaya's 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal, a silver medal from the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games, a bronze from the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, and a bronze from the 1982 Amsterdam Champions Trophy. Valuables worth approximately ₹3.5 lakh in gold and silver items, plus ₹30,000 in cash, were also taken.
When and how did the Bengaluru burglary occur?
The burglary took place at around 2.34 a.m. on 28 October, while Somaya and his family were away on holiday in Madikeri, Kodagu. A neighbour alerted the family to the break-in, and police later identified the intruders through CCTV footage from an adjacent property.
Who were the accused arrested in the M.M. Somaya medal theft case?
Police arrested Manikya alias Manikanta (31), a labourer, and Bharat alias Darli (25), a resident of Banashankari, near Hegganahalli cross on 9 November. Manikya has 28 prior cases and six non-bailable warrants across Karnataka and Tamil Nadu; Bharat faces murder and theft charges. A third accused is still being hunted.
Have all of Somaya's medals and valuables been recovered?
Yes. Bengaluru Police confirmed that all four stolen medals, gold and silver valuables worth ₹3.5 lakh, and ₹30,000 in cash have been fully recovered. Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh described returning the medals to Somaya as a privilege.
