Hyderabad: The discrepancy between the ruby-studded gold cup retrieved by the Hyderabad police from the two men who allegedly stole it from the Nizam’s museum, and the pictures of the exquisitely designed cup and saucer published in various publications had snowballed into a controversy.
Doubts were expressed about whether the police had recovered the stolen artefact as they claimed. The pictures of the two cups were quite different.
This newspaper discussed the matter with reliable sources who are members of the Nizam’s jewellery trust and confirmed that the cup that was stolen is the one rec-overed, and this puts an end to all speculations.
On the eve of September 2, in a daring heist, burglars slipped into the Nizam’s Museum at Purani Haveli through the ventilators and decamped with an expensive diamond-studded gold tiffin box called ‘Thosedan’ in Urdu and a gold teacup used by the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII.
The city was shaken, and Princess Esra Jah, the first wife of the last Nizam of Hyderabad Mukarram Jah in conversation with this newspaper called the theft of artefacts as sad and unfortunate.
By then, a picture of a ruby and gold teacup and saucer with exquisite design was in circulation. The stolen cup has no design except for embedded rubies and after it was retrieved by the Hyderabad police it was displayed at the Hyderabad police commissioner’s office. Many, including heritage enthusiasts, were under the impression it was the cup shown in the picture that was stolen.
A reliable source confirmed to this newspaper: “There are three sets of cup and saucer at the Nizam’s museum. Two were untouched (one of them is the one in the picture). However, the plain cup with embedded rubies placed along with the tiffin box was stolen. The cops have retrieved the original artefact.”
The recovery of the Nizam’s gift brought cheer. However, there are demands that the precious artefacts be evaluated before they are returned to the museum.
Deepak Kant, heritage enthusiast, said, “The museum artefacts are far too precious for Hyder-abad to risk a repeat of what happened. I suggest a detailed audit be carried out on security protocol followed at the museum and it should be reopened only when the best state of the art security is in place.”
Faiz Khan, a member of the Paigah family added, “We are thrilled. The prayers of Hyderabadis have been answered. The artefacts are part of Hyderabad Pride.”
Of the robbers eating and drinking from the cup and tiffin box, Faiz Khan said, “Chor to din ke raja bangye” (robbers have become kings for a day).
