- By Imran Zafar
- Wed, 27 Nov 2024 08:35 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
A 49-year-old man stole a 50-million-year-old fossil from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) stall at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) on November 21. Despite the presence of 2,000 Delhi Police personnel and 1,000 CCTV cameras, the theft went unnoticed for hours until GSI officials discovered the fossil missing.
The accused, Manoj Kumar Mishra, was arrested on Monday from his residence in Noida after police traced a PayTM transaction he made at the fair. The stolen fossil, identified as a gastropod from the Eocene epoch (56-33.9 million years ago), was recovered from his study table. Experts believe the fossil, characterised by its spiral design, dates back to an era older than many landmasses and the Himalayan range.
According to police, Mishra entered the fair in the morning, purchased a few items and later picked up the 1kg fossil from Hall No. 4. He placed it in his bag and continued to explore the exhibition for another two to four hours, searching for more items to steal. GSI officials noticed the fossil missing an hour or two later, but without security checks at the exit, Mishra managed to leave undetected.
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Deputy Commissioner of Police Sumit Kumar Jha stated that officers reviewed footage from hundreds of cameras and identified Mishra by tracing his PayTM payment. Further investigation revealed that Mishra worked in a hotel's housekeeping department and was a regular visitor to the trade fair. He confessed to stealing the fossil with the intention of selling it.
Although the fossil’s exact value remains unclear, experts estimate it could be worth several crores. Mishra reportedly attempted to contact potential buyers online before his arrest. Police are also investigating whether he stole other items during his visits to the fair.