CBI closes probe into Nobel medallion theft, Mamata dismayed

Santiniketan (WB), Aug 23 (PTI) India's premier
investigating agency Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has
closed the probe into the sensational theft of Rabindranath
Tagore's Nobel medallion and 47 other memorabilia in
Santiniketan over five years back, a move that was greeted
with dismay Sunday.

The SP, Special Crime Branch of the CBI, Kolkata has
informed the Bolpur sub-divisional court, which is monitoring
the theft case, in a letter dated August 20 that the
investigation was closed for want of any significant clues.

A copy of the letter has been sent to the
Visva-Bharati university. The university Registrar Manimukut
Mitra said it was clearly written in the letter which he had
received on August 21 that the premier investigation agency is
not proceeding further in the case of the theft in Rabindra
Bhavan. Tagore won the Nobel prize for literature in 1913.

Five days after the theft came to light on March 25,
2004, the CBI formally started an investigation. But after
three years of fruitless probe, the CBI closed the case on
August 30, 2007 only to reopen it on September 18, 2008.

Trinamool Congress chief and India's Railway minister
Mamata Banerjee voiced dismay at the CBI action saying she
would talk to Union Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on the
matter.

The Visva-Bharati Vice-Chancellor, Rajat Kanto Ray
said he was very unhappy and so were the teaching staff as
well as the students.

Some intellectuals including noted writer Nabaneeta
Deb Sen also expressed their unhappiness. Sen said the CBI
should not give up efforts to trace the treasure.

"I am feeling very bad. I am not happy on hearing that
the CBI has appealed to court for closing the theft case. It
is a shame that we have to remain alive with a replica of the
Tagore's Nobel medallion", Mamata said in Kolkata.

Mamata told reporters she would urge Mukherjee to take
up the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is also
the Chancellor of the Visva-Bharati university, so that
investigation by the central agency could be restarted.

"There can be a deep-rooted conspiracy behind the
theft of the priceless treasures which should be unearthed and
the culprits brought to book. I hope the CBI will move away
from its decision," Mamata said. PTI CORR
Swine flu claims one more in Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 23 (PTI) A 21-year-old pregnant woman died
of swine flu at Kasturba Hospital Sunday, taking the total
death count to eight here in India's western metropolis, a
health official said.

Pushpa Choudhary, a resident of Thane district was
admitted to the Hospital on August 21 and was kept on
ventilator, the official said.

"The woman died this morning due to H1N1. She was
brought to the hospital in very bad condition and was seven
month pregnant. She tested positive for H1N1. However, we
could not investigate, if she had some other ailments as
well," Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's Public Health
Officer, Jairaj Thanekar told PTI here.

She had earlier undergone treatment at Vinit Hospital
in Thane, and was admitted to Kasturba Hospital from there
only, he said. PTI KKP

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