Stolen 1980 Olympic gold, 7 medals of ex-hockey player recovered by Bengaluru cops; 2 held

Explained

Bengaluru police have recovered the 1980 Olympic gold medal and seven other international medals belonging to M.M. Somaya, a former hockey player, after they were stolen from his home. Two people have been arrested in the case, according to The Hindu and Hindustan Times. Deccan Herald reported the arrests on 11 November and said police were looking for a third suspect.

What happened

Deccan Herald said the valuables were taken from Somaya's house in the HAL 3rd Stage area of Bengaluru. Its report described the stolen items as including the 1980 Moscow gold medal, along with other belongings. The Hindu said the medals and other items were recovered by the city police, who arrested the two suspects. Hindustan Times, which also reported the recovery, said Somaya thanked the police, and he was quoted as saying that he felt as though he had won the medals all over again.

Items recovered

According to The Hindu, the recovered items include the gold medal, the seven other international medals, a traditional Kodava dagger, a camera and an Olympic kit bag. Police also recovered a two-wheeler that they allegedly used in the offence, the same report said. The Hindu described the vehicle as allegedly used, so the link between it and the suspects has not been tested in court.

What we don't know yet

The reports do not give the exact date of the theft or describe how the suspects were identified. They also do not name the arrested men. Deccan Herald's report says a third suspect is still being pursued, but the other two outlets do not mention a third person. The reports do not say whether any more items remain missing. Because the three outlets published on the same day and rely on police information, further details may emerge as the investigation continues.

Written by the 91News.in desk with AI assistance, based on reports from Hindustan Times, The Hindu, Deccan Herald. Updated 11 Nov 2026, 5:05 pm. Spotted an error? Tell us.