Bombay HC slams MU’s ‘apathy’ in taking steps against siphoning of historical coins from its museum, directs collector, auctioneer to deposit unsold coins

The seat besides directed the steadfast that had allegedly auctioned the said coins, to supply the details done an further affidavit of those which are inactive disposable with it and deposit them successful the court, on with the details of persons to whom coins whitethorn person been sold.

A part seat of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar was proceeding PIL filed successful 2014 by Farokh Todywalla, president of Mumbai Coin Society, who claimed done elder advocator Dinyar Madon, that helium had sold a portion of his coin postulation to Mody, the president of Dinesh Mody Institute of Numismatics and Archaeology (DMINA), astatine a debased terms truthful that they tin beryllium donated to the museum.

Todywalla had alleged that Mody was selling nether a bid named ‘Vardhaman collection,’ the coins belonging to the depository and those purchased successful the sanction of the museum.

The petitioner had argued that Mody continued to acquisition respective coins and invoiced them successful the museum’s sanction to debar 10-15 percent work tax.

Mody, however, had stated that arsenic per donation statement of May 28, 1993 betwixt him and MU, lone 7,000 to 8,000 coins were donated to the depository and the different coins exclusively belonged to him arsenic helium had purchased them successful his idiosyncratic capableness betwixt 2009 and 2013.

He had said that Todywalla’s allegations were mendacious and were made retired of concern rivalry betwixt him and the contiguous auctioneer. The HC had passed an interim bid connected January 31, 2014, restraining Mody and the auctioneer from putting up for auction immoderate coins belonging to the depository oregon purchased successful its sanction astatine immoderate constituent of clip aft its establishment. It had pulled up MU for its inaction successful November 2016.

Emphasising that concerns raised successful the plea person to beryllium viewed ‘seriously,’ the seat connected Tuesday noted successful the order, “Facts of the lawsuit pleaded successful the petition uncover arsenic to however apathy connected the portion of the authorities of Mumbai University has led to siphoning disconnected its ain spot successful the signifier of numismatic coins, which astatine 1 constituent of clip were to beryllium kept successful the depository of the University successful presumption of 1993 agreement. The coins which are expected to beryllium kept successful the depository successful harmless and unafraid custody, bash not transportation with themselves lone the worth of metallic they are made of, alternatively these coins transportation past and civilization associated with them As it is, due to the fact that these coins are articles of antiquity, are sometimes sold connected precise dense price.”

The seat added, “Despite acknowledging that coins were lost/siphoned away, thing factual has been done for each these years by MU authorities. Once the coins were donated to the assemblage by Mody successful presumption of agreement, they became spot of the MU, which were to beryllium preserved and protected not lone for its worth successful the marketplace but besides for its world worth and besides arsenic an entity of further study/research etc successful assorted branches of past including archaeology.”

The HC accepted a petition by Mody’s lawyer to record an further affidavit by October 22 and directed him and the auctioneer to deposit disposable coins successful the tribunal and posted further proceeding to November 13.