Nizam Museum theft case will be cracked soon: Shikha Goel

​Hyderabad: Taking the Purani Haveli Nizam Museum theft case as a challenge, the police started investigations in a rapid mode. Additional CP, Crimes and SIT Shikha Goel on Tuesday visited the crime scene and inspected the area. She said that the thieves entered through the ventilator inside the museum and broke the glass wardrobe with an iron rod and stole valuables including a three tier golden tiffin box and a golden cup embedded with diamonds, gold, ruby and emeralds, a spoon and saucer with a tray. The robbery took place on Sunday night. Based on the CCTV footage, the police suspect the involvement of two persons in the crime. The valuables belong to the Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan. 

Shikha Goel said that 15 teams were deployed on behalf of the Hyderabad police to catch the thieves. The police observed the CCTV footage in the museum but failed to get a clear picture of the thieves. So, they observed the CCTV footage arranged around the Nizam museum and the routes approaching the museum. The police retrieved a picture of the thieves and are investigating the case in all angles. Additional CP expressed confidence that the thieves will be caught very soon. 

She said the police spoke to the members of the Nizam trust and highlighted the security lapses to them. She said that very soon the security system around and, in the museum, will be strengthened with an alarm system. A high definition CCTV will be installed at the museum. 

She spoke to the security guards Ganesh, Mohammed Nasser and Murtuza who were on duty on Sunday when the robbery occurred. Two men guarded the ground floor and one manned the first floor till 8 pm. Poor security at the museum allowed the thieves to made away with priceless artefacts. The museum did not have burglar alarms and the showcases lack sensors which could have tipped off the authorities.

Usually the museum opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm every day. The museum was opened to the general public on February 18, 2000 by the Nizam trust. First time since its inauguration, a robbery took place on Sunday. The incident came to light when the officials opened the museum on Monday morning. Earlier Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar visited the spot and instructed officials to immediately nab the thieves.