'Tagore Nobel theft case closure unfortunate'

LS Speaker Somnath Chatterjee describes as unfortunate the decision of the CBI to close the probe into the theft of Tagore's Nobel Prize medallion.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Sunday described as unfortunate the decision of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to close the probe into the theft of Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel Prize medallion.

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"It is unfortunate that the CBI has decided to end the probe into the Nobel theft. The decision has saddened the people of the country and especially me as I represent the Bolpur constituency from where the medallion was stolen," Chatterjee told newspersons on the sidelines of the Indo-Vietnam Friendship Festival in Kolkata.

"As one of the country's premier investigation agencies, CBI was given the charge to probe the theft. I don't know why they have decided to close the probe. They may have their reasons. But I think they should continue the probe," he said.

The medallion and other priceless items, including gold and ivory artefacts, were stolen from Rabindra Bhavan in Santiniketan on March 25, 2004. The CBI, which started the probe six days later, had announced a Rs 1 million reward to anyone leading to the recovery of the medallion.