Journalism of Courage
Finders Keepers? *5 found during construction at old Wada,labourer kept 1,contractor 4
The crime branch of Pune police have seized four gold biscuits belonging to the British era,as gauged from the inscription ‘Mocatta & Goldsmid Bullion Brokers,London on them. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) experts are trying to ascertain how old the biscuits are.
On a tip-off,a police team led by crime branch inspector Satish Govekar arrested Vinod Sukhlal Dali (38) on Tuesday. Dali is from West Bengal and stays in Chinchwad. Govekar said,During a construction work at old wada (cluster of houses) of one Mr Pardeshi in Chinchwad,Surya,a labourer working under Dali,found the five biscuits,each weighing about 310 grams. Dali gave one to Surya and kept the others with him.
Police arrested Dali after they got wind of the fact that Dali was in Khadki to sell the biscuits. The biscuits,police said,have,National Bank of India inscribed on them. Below that,an inscription in Gujarati says,National Bank of India,100 per cent along with Mocatta & Goldsmid Bullion Brokers,London in English.
BB Jangali from the ASI office in Pune said,The police had got in touch with us regarding the matter. We have referred them to our Mumbai office where our archaeology and antiques experts are stationed. Govekar said,We will send the biscuits to Mumbai through the collectors office for further examination to know exactly how old they are and whether they are antiques as per law. The investigating team,besides Govekar,comprised Arvind Gokule,Majid Shaikh,Vilas Palande,Arun Budhkar,Raghunath More,Popat Gaikwad,Balasaheb Jagtap,Sanjay Sawant and Gani Sayyad.
