Image
The famous Kohinoor diamond which is now part of the British Crown jewels was not ‘gifted’ but surrendered to the Queen, revealed the Archaeological Survey of India.
Kohinoor is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world.
According to the Times of India report, while replying to an RTI, this fact was declared by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). To know the basis of the transfer of Kohinoor diamond to the United Kingdom, the RTI was filed by activist Rohit Sabharwal to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
The PMO transferred the RTI to ASI, which in return gave exact details of the terms of surrender.
Kohinoor, according to the ASI, was “surrendered” by Maharaja of Lahore to Queen of England.
The government, in April 2016, had told the Supreme Court that the Kohinoor diamond was neither “forcibly taken nor stolen” by the British but was gifted to the East India Company by the successors of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who ruled Punjab at the time.
The Modi government had told the apex court that India shouldn't claim the famous Kohinoor diamond from the British as the same was handed over by Maharaja Ranjit Singh to the East India Company.
