[MSN] Fake painting racket busted at Bolpur.

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Fake painting racket busted at Bolpur 
 
Express News Service 
 
Kolkata, October 17: Visva-Bharati, which shot into limelight after the
theft of Tagore's Nobel medallion, seems to be the breeding ground of a
racket involving stolen fake artefacts. Police today arrested four persons
involved in the racket. 

The racket was busted by the SDPO, Bolpur in a night-long raid at a lodge
and the residence of an ex-Armyman. Police recovered a large number of
duplicate paintings and antique pieces. The incident took place last night
at around 11.30 pm. Acting on a tip-off, police raided different parts of
the town. The antiques had similarity with those which were stolen from
Rabindra Bhavan along with Tagore's Nobel medallion, the police said. 
Police laid a trap, disguising two sub-inspectors of Bolpur police station
as prospective buyers along with a foreigner. The foreigner was a student of
Visva-Bharati. First, they ventured into a local lodge, Pampa Lodge, and
arrested Sukumar Das, the owner, and seized a number of fake antiques from
him. During interrogation Sukumar revealed that the racket thrived in the
city and had its base at the residence of one Chandan Mondol, an
ex-serviceman. Police later arrested Mondol after raiding his residence. A
number of such fake antiques were seized from his residence. Another police
team, meanwhile, raided Charukala studio and arrested the owner, Rohitasya
Ghosh. A number of duplicate antiques, including some paintings, were seized
from the studio. The fake paintings were of great perfection and were sold
as originals, police later said.

http://cities.expressindia.com/