NEW DELHI: The 108-carat Kohinoor diamond was “surrendered” by the Maharaja of Lahore to the Queen of England and “not handed over” to the British nearly 170 years ago, according to an RTI reply.
The information was given by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in response to a query by a Ludhiana-based activist, as to whether the precious gem was a gift to the British or its possession was transferred for some other reason.
Incidentally, the written response from ASI, dated October 10, is divergent from the Centre’s version in the Supreme Court in April 2016.
The Kohinoor diamond, estimated to cost over USD 200 million, was neither stolen nor “forcibly” taken by British rulers but given to East India Company by erstwhile rulers of Punjab, the Government had told the Apex Court.
Rohit Sabharwal Tuesday said he had filed an RTI query about a month ago, seeking the answer from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). “I did not know that the query was forwarded to the ASI, which eventually responded to the query.”
“As per the records kept in the National Archives of India, New Delhi… The Lahore treaty held between Lord Dalhousie and Maharaja Duleep Singh in 1849, Kohinoor diamond was surrendered by the Maharaja of Lahore to the Queen of England,” according to the reply. (AGENCIES)
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