[MSN] India: Antique painting worth Rs 10 lakh stolen from Laxmi Vilas Palace

[MSN]

Antique painting worth Rs 10 lakh stolen from Laxmi Vilas Palace
(http://www.laxmivilas.com/) 

Vadodara, May 04
A Painting of Maharaja Pratapsinh Gaekwad worth Rs 10 lakh has been stolen
from the Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara. The erstwhile Baroda royal family
believes the theft, which came to light recently, took place around eight
months ago.
According to Niraj Gaekwad, who registered a complaint at the Raopura police
station on Saturday, the Council Room at the palace was being renovated last
year and all the artefacts were kept in a storeroom for safekeeping.
"We were putting the antiques back to the Council Room on April 27 when we
noticed the theft. The thieves had managed to cut out the canvas oil
painting and left the frame," Gaekwad said.
Inspector N A Solanki said they suspect the involvement of an insider in the
crime. "Not many have access to the paintings or the storeroom. So to begin
with, we have recorded the statements of those staying in the palace," he
said. He added that a team from the Forensic Science Laboratory inspected
the area but did not find anything substantial, as the theft occurred
several months ago.
This is the second such theft reported from the Laxmi Vilas Palace in recent
years. In 2005, an antique umbrella was stolen.

http://www.indianexpress.com/

Museum Security Network / Museum Security Consultancy
toncremers at museum-security.org
http://www.museum-security.org
Handboek Veiligheidszorg Erfgoedbeheerders
http://www.handboekveiligheidszorgmusea.nl/