Devadas

Devika Rani

Roerichs

nonagenarian

FIVE FAMOUS ART HEISTS

Police chief worried about 94-year-old complainant’ health affecting case which has seen 115 adjournments since 1997This crime received worldwide attention 21 years ago when it was registered. It was a sensational case pertaining to the theft of priceless paintings, gold jewellery, heirloom and antiques at the Tataguni Estate belonging to the internationally acclaimed artist-painter Svetoslav Roerich and his famous and ravishingly beautiful actor-wife of yesteryear. The key witness and the complainant was then 73-year-old R Devadas, a family friend of the. Today, Devadas is 94, and let alone the case – that was first charge sheeted in 1997 –being anywhere close to its finality, it appears not to have even budged with an appalling 115 court adjournments till date, thanks mainly to the tactics of the defence to postpone proceedings.TheDevadas is known to have regularly trekked up and down court halls to record his statements over the last 18 years. Now, fearing that any adverse impact on Devadas’ health could have an enormously negative effect on the case, the city police commissioner’s office has written to the head of prosecutions seeking the setting up of a special court to fast-track the case, giving due consideration to the nonagenarian key witness-cum-complainant’s health and well-being.The letter to Director of Prosecutions on July 15 sent from police commissioner M N Reddi’s office, explaining the status of the case, says: “The case got national attention and the precious items recovered holds international relevance. The case is moving at a slow pace in the court and in case there is any death of the complainant or the witnesses, it would be a setback to the prosecution. And an adverse order would be a big embarrassment to the state government. In this background, a special court is necessary to fast-track the case.’’Svetoslav Roerich died on January 30, 1993, while his wife Devika Rani passed away on March 9, 1994.It was within a month after Devika Rani’s death that precious pieces of jewellery and paintings had reportedly gone missing from their sprawling 468.33 acre estate in Tataguni, on Kanakapura Road. Devadas’s complaint was registered on April 2, 1994 against Roerich’s personal assistant Mary Joyce Poonacha, her husband Anil Poonacha and their friend BM Nandakumar under sections 379, 380, 381, 408, 471, 468, 420, 175 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (relating to theft, cheating and breach of trust); Section 25 of Arms Act 1959; and Section 25(2) of The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972.The trio was alleged to have stolen gold, paintings and antiques worth Rs 50 lakh from the estate and allegedly misusing more than Rs 1.5 crore. Subsequently, after investigation, the High Grounds Police made a case and recovered a major portion of the stolen items including jewellery and paintings.The investigation was handed over to the Central Crime Bureau (CCB) police who submitted a charge-sheet on June 18, 1997, against Mary and Anil Poonacha and Nandakumar in the I ACMM court; and in 2001, two more charge-sheets with supporting documents were filed before IV ACMM court. In 2015, the case was transferred to II ACMM court.According to the status review report of the case prepared by the police, till now, the case has seen 115 adjournments and of the 221 witnesses, only the prime witness, Devadas who is now 94 years old, was summoned to record his statement.Joint commissioner of police (Crime), M Chandra Sekhar, told Bangalore Mirror: “One of our officers told me that this case has been dragging on for nearly two decades. We reviewed it and found that it was moving at a slow pace. We have informed the prosecution that there is a wilful delay on the part of the defence which is trying to get the case postponed. The prime witness has aged and we have asked the prosecution director to set up a special court and hasten the case. From our end, we will take all measures to see that the case is expedited.’’* The case is getting adjourned since 1997 despite charge-sheets being filed. Documents not submitted; witnesses not examined even as they were present in the court; judge, public prosecutor and defence counsel on leave are the major grounds on which adjournments were given.* The case has not seen any movement since 1997.* 221 witnesses have to be examined in the case, but only one witness has been examined.* Case was registered 21 years ago. The complainant is old and is it difficult for him to come to court.* Antiques and paintings found in the inventory at Tataguni Estate – 900 (deposited in Venkatappa Art Gallery).* Paintings in Chitrakala Parishat (CKP) – 18.* Items in CKP -- 37 boxes.* In City Armed Reserve armoury – revolver with 7 chambers; revolver with 5 chambers; DBBL gun; one breech loading ranger gun; one breech loading rifle; 483 bullets.*Jewellery pieces, in total 90 items in Indian Bank, MG Road lockers.* Chevrolet car.On August 21, 1911, a museum worker at the Louvre walked out with the painting valued at US$100 million under his smock believing it should be held at an Italian museum. The thief was apprehended and the painting returned.In 2004, the painting was stolen from Munch Museum. The estimated value of the paintings was $19 million. Eventually, both of the paintings were recovered but they had both been damaged.Two thieves broke into the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and stole it, along with a whopping 20 other paintings.In 2002, during an art showing in Paraguay. Two thieves dug a tunnel into the museum and stole 85 paintings. The thieves were arrested and paintings returned.An estimated 15,000 artifacts were stolen. Among the missing are the diorite statue of Entemena and almost 5,000 cylinder seals.