A government school teacher in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh district has been booked after labourers accused him of allegedly taking away and concealing a bucketful of British-era silver coins unearthed during excavation at his ancestral house.
Police said a total of 102 silver coins have been recovered so far and a case has been registered against house owner and schoolteacher Alok Soni under provisions of the Treasure Trove Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly taking home recovered coins, concealing them and failing to inform authorities.
Discovery of the Coins
The controversy surfaced on Saturday when labourers digging the foundation of a pillar at Soni's house allegedly discovered a brass pot containing silver coins. Workers claimed further excavation yielded a large cache of silver coins and some silver rods buried beneath the soil.
According to labourers, Soni allegedly filled a bucket with the valuables and took them away. They claimed he later handed them Rs 500 and asked them to leave when they demanded a share. They alerted a former village sarpanch, who informed police.
Police Investigation and Recovery
Police said Soni initially disclosed only 42 coins. However, after labourers alleged a much larger recovery, authorities intensified questioning and conducted a search, recovering another 60 silver coins allegedly hidden inside a steel container in a nearby house. A joint team of police, revenue officials and the archaeology department inspected the site on Sunday, including the pillar excavation point where the cache was reportedly found.
Historical Significance
Several recovered coins bear images of Queen Victoria and King George V, suggesting they date back to the British colonial period. Archaeology officials said the coins appear to belong to the 19th century, though their exact historical and monetary value is yet to be assessed.
The incident has raised questions about the handling of archaeological discoveries and the legal obligations of citizens to report such findings. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine if more coins remain hidden.
