Click to play videoLondon: London Auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb has called off the sale of the George Cross, which was awarded to Indian soldier Naik Kirpa Ram in 1946 for bravery.
Kirpa Ram’s wife had alleged that the medal was stolen from her home seven years ago.
“I am not surprised. This happens in our business. We will wait for investigation. No idea how long it will take but I am told they will interview someone who was associated with the medal,” says Managing Director Dix Noonam Webb, Nimrod Dix.
The auctioneers say they have documents to prove the medal was sold in the year 2000 but records show that the case of medal’s theft was closed by the Bilaspore police seven years ago after failing to make headway.
“As Government is now trying that this medal should not be auctioned in England, they should have taken up the issue at that time itself. This medal would have never reached England if the Government had taken a keen interest at that time (when the medal was allegedly stolen),” says Vice-president Ex-Serviceman League of India’s Northern Himachal State K C Thakur.
The BJP too raised the issue in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Naik Kirpa Ram won the British Empire’s highest peacetime gallantry medal, for saving the lives of fellow soldiers.
The symbol of his bravery may not be going under the hammer for now but it is hard to say if it will ever return to his home.
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