Mamata opposes CBI plea to close Tagore Nobel medal theft case

August 23, 2009 08:30 pm | Updated 08:30 pm IST - Kolkata

Photo: AP

Photo: AP

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday opposed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plea to close the probe into poet Rabindranath Tagores Nobel Prize medallion theft and said she would take up the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

We have come to know that the CBI is trying to close the probe into the Nobel theft case. Were certainly not happy with this decision, Ms. Banerjee said.

Today (Sunday) I am going to New Delhi and will meet union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee there. Well together discuss the matter and will definitely talk to the prime minister regarding the issue, she said.

Based on a report from the International Police (Interpol) that it has not arrested any suspect in Bangladesh, the CBI has moved the court seeking permission to close the case for lack of clues.

Ms. Banerjee said: Tagores Nobel medallion holds special significance to all Bengalis and we think just because the Interpol has failed to find any clue, we must not stop the investigation procedure.

I remember one saying of Swami Vivekananda - Never say no, never say I cannot We need to continue the probe and Ill personally appeal to the government to continue the process.

The CBI had earlier closed the case in September 2007 saying its investigation was not going anywhere.

However, in September last year the CBI reopened the case after telling the court that it has stumbled upon vital clues.

The sensational theft of the medallion and 47 other memorabilia from Rabindra Bhawan at Santiniketan in Bolpur came to light on March 25, 2004.

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