MYSORE: Less than a fortnight after?Mysore police arrested a 10-member gang of antique peddlers and recovered a 400-year-old Quran written on gold coated pages from them, it has emerged that the religious scripture could be the same copy of Quran that was stolen from a museum in Kashmir 12 years ago.
According to IGP B?K?Singh the sleuths attached to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who are already investigating into the case, have collected information in this regard from his office, Deccan Herald reported on Thursday.
On the other hand, officials of the Department of Heritage and Archeology from the valley have contacted the police here.
Upon their request, photos and video of the scripture have been dispatched to them and the response is awaited. Besides, a historian from New Delhi also came down to Mysore to vet into the prized possession.
The case
When the Quran was found missing from SPS?Museum in Srinagar in 2003, it had stirred a hornets nest, as it was one of the rarest scriptures.
No sooner the news over the possibilities of theft spread, the locals had taken to streets and had forced the government to order for a CBI?probe.
However, the Quran remains to be traced and it is only with the recent case in Mysore, the investigators have been verifying into the similarities if any.
Aurangzebs period
Former vice-chancellor of Mangalore and Goa universities B?Sheik Ali, who helped the police in establishing the significance of the Quran after its seizure, said it could be the calligraphy of Aurangzeb, the crown prince during the period of rule of Shahjahan during 1640 AD.
No results
Meanwhile, a team of investigators from Mysore, who had left for Hyderabad, following an information given by the accused in the case, have returned empty-handed.
The accused, during interrogation, had revealed that it was sourced from Hyderabad.
Different views
With different opinions emerging from various quarters, the police authorities have decided to write to the Department of Archaeology, Heritage and Museum. During the preliminary investigation, it had emerged that the religious scripture may belong to the period of Akbar.
However, historians have a different version, adducing at the period of rule of Aurangzeb and?Shahjahan, Deccan Herald report said.
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