The Central Government on Monday told the Supreme Court that ‘Kohinoor’ was not stolen by the British, but it was gifted by Maharaja Ranjit Singh to the East India Company.
The Solicitor General told the apex court that India should not claim ‘Kohinoor’ as it was neither stolen nor forcibly taken away.
‘It is the stand of the Culture Ministry, MEA is also a party and there response is yet to come,’ the Solicitor General told the apex court.
Meanwhile, the apex court has asked the Centre to file a detailed reply within six weeks.
The Centre’s reply came after the SC had asked the government to clarify its stand on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking return of the crown jewel to the country.
Koh-i-Noor is the largest colourless diamond that was mined near Guntur in Andhra Pradesh in India in the 13th century. The uncut diamond weighed 793 carats and it has been in possession of Queen Victoria since 1849.