Published On : Wed, Oct 2nd, 2013
Latest News | By Nagpur Today Nagpur News

3 Years of Shame: CID still clueless in Mahatma Gandhi’s spectacles theft case

Advertisement

Although the Spectacles is priceless, but the followers of Mahatma Gandhi in the Sewagram Ashram, say, the Spectacles could fetch Rs 5 crore in world market. The Spectacles of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was stolen from the world renowned Sewagram Ashram, the abode of Mahatma in Wardha District during Independence Movement. The Ashram is itself a Treasure having a Museum with items of Gandhi’s daily-use like “Charkha” (Weaving machine), kitchen material and other historically important items. The Spectacles was also the part of the Museum.However, the Spectacles, on a sunny day in November, 2010, suddenly vanished from the Museum. But most awfully, the disappearance of the Spectacles was noticed on June 14, 2011 by a follower of Mahatma Gandhi, who stays in the Ashram and maintains it.

 

gandhiNagpur News:

“Nobody can hurt me without my permission.”  —- Mahatma Gandhi

“If patience is worth anything, it must endure to the end of time. And a living faith will last in the midst of the blackest storm.” —- Mahatma Gandhi

But the Father of the Nation has been hurt by a senseless soul who has stolen his Spectacles, the Treasure of the Nation, three years ago and the Crime Branch of Nagpur Police or for that matter the police of the entire country have utterly failed to find the Treasure even after three years. The patience of the nation is running out and the pointed questions are being raised over efficacy of the police.

The Spectacles is priceless, but for the criminals, the Spectacles could fetch Rs 5 crore in world market.

The Spectacles of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was stolen from the world renowned Sewagram Ashram, the abode of Mahatma in Wardha District during Independence Movement. The Ashram is itself a Treasure having a Museum with items of Gandhi’s daily-use like “Charkha” (Weaving machine), kitchen material and other historically important items. The Museum is visited by thousands of people from India and foreign countries. The Spectacles was also the part of the Museum.

However, the Spectacles, on a sunny day in November, 2010, suddenly vanished from the Museum. But most awfully, the disappearance of the Spectacles was noticed on June 14, 2011 by a follower of Mahatma Gandhi, who stays in the Ashram and maintains it. The theft of the Spectacle sent tremors across the nation and world, too, and crores of Mahatma Gandhi followers were left dumbfounded and outraged.

The Ashram lodged a complaint in Sewagram Police Station in this connection. The Maharashtra Government, taking very very serious note of the outrageous incident, ordered a CID investigation into the matter and subsequently, the Crime Branch of the Nagpur Police was handed over the probe.  The then Superintendent of Police Yashasvi Yadav took the challenge and initiated the probe in massive proportions. In the meantime, Yashasvi Yadav was transferred and in his place Kishore Bele took the charge. Kishore Bele, however, retired before three months, failing to crack the case. Now, the case is being probed by Additional Superintendent of Police Ratan Singh and his team.

The investigation team frequently visited Sewagram Ashram and Wardha for any breakthrough by questioning Ashram inmates and other people but did not get any firm clue. The National Treasure still eluded the police. However, the police seized a laptop from a woman who is connected to the Ashram activities. The detailed investigation revealed deletion of many crucial files. The Crime Branch then sent the hard disc to Chemical Analyzer (CA) in order to recover the deleted files again but the CA found the files corrupt. Now, the police have sent other files for Chemical Analyzer for any clues in the case. The Crime Branch has, however, investigating the matter from all angles has spread a network to nab the culprit (s) in the case.

Although the Spectacles is priceless, but the followers of Mahatma Gandhi in the Ashram, say the Spectacles could fetch Rs 5 crore in world market.

It may be recalled, Mahatma Gandhi had come to Wardha on September 23 in 1933 and stayed at Sewagram Ashram till 1946, full 13 years, and gave the non-violence message to entire world in an effective way.

Anil Rotkar & Ravikant Kamble