Chennai: Rare Mughal era coins were reportedly stolen from the Government Museum complex in Egmore on Thursday night. The authorities, however, claim that what was stolen were replicas and not the original coins, which were stored in safe custody some years ago.
The incident has left authorities baffled as the museum has security round the clock and CCTV surveillance. It is being presumed that the thief entered the secluded Bronze Gallery on Thursday and decamped, the museum being closed on Friday and the staff making the discovery only on Saturday.
The CCTV footage has been handed over to the police for further investigation, a senior official said.
Ruling out the possibility of any artifacts being stolen, the official said that the museum authorities had been told to verify the stock and ascertain the exact loss. “There has been no major loss as of now. We are verifying the collection and corroborating with our records,” a senior official said.
Upon learning of the incident, principal secretary for tourism, culture and museums R. Kannan undertook an inspection along with museum officials.
The Bronze Gallery displays rare gold and copper coins of the Gupta, Pandya and Chola emperors, including Raja Raja, Rajendra Chola and Kulotunga Chola I, Pallava, Krishnadeva Raya, the Mughal emperors Akbar and Jehangir, East India Company coins and Roman coins besides replicas of rare coins and other artefacts.
Hindu, Buddhist and Jain sculptures and bronze idols; and Thanjavur, Rajput, Mughal, Kangra and Deccan paintings were on view too.
The police conducted a preliminary investigation, forensic experts collected fingerprint samples.
