Police were pursuing important clues and hopeful of soon cracking the theft case of antique items, including a diamond inlaid gold tiffin box, from the Nizam's Museum at Purani Haveli here, officials said Wednesday.
Fifteen special teams have been formed as part of the probe into the case of theft that took place on September 2 night from the third gallery of the museum.
Museum authorities had complained to police that antique items -- a two-kg gold tiffin box inlaid with diamonds, a cup studded with rubies, diamonds and emeralds, a saucer and a spoon of the seventh Nizam were found missing from an almirah.
After CCTV footage of two masked persons (seen walking out of a building and driving a bike) went viral on the social media, police suspect that at least two offenders committed this burglary after gaining entry through the ventilator.
"Investigation is going on... 15 teams are working on this. We have some important clues and we are hopeful of detecting the case very soon.
"Though there is no clarity from the CCTV cameras (at the museum)... but we have got feed from other CCTV cameras," a senior police official, said, adding they suspect at least two persons entered the museum through a ventilator on the first floor, used rods to open the almirah and took away the items.
The official said five security guards are deployed outside the museum building at night and there was need to install an alarm system as part of enhanced security measures.
Whatever were the security "lapses", they be brought to the notice of the people concerned, the official said.
Asked if they suspect role of any insiders, the senior official said it would be known only after investigation.
"It's an open investigation and all angles are being verified," the official said.
The Nizam's Museum showcases the collection of Nizam Osman Ali Khan, the seventh and the last Nizam and also his father's (sixth Nizam's) wardrobe.
The galleries at the museum stock silver and gold artifacts and replicas of landmark constructions.
In a related development, Nawab Najaf Ali Khan, grandson of Nizam VII of Hyderabad and president of the Nizam Family Welfare Association, wrote to Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar and requested that utmost priority be taken to recover the objects of historical importance.
He questioned the security arrangements at the museum, saying "There is a big question mark on the management running this museum as it is due to their negligence and poor security arrangements that gave easy access to the thieves."
The theft happened because of lack of security, he said and demanded that the trustees (of the museum) handling the day-to-day matters immediately resign and also that the chairman take moral responsibility (for the incident).
The museum has various precious items of Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur Nizam VII, he said, adding, "souvenirs, gifts presented by other rulers, dignitaries and many more priceless items are placed at the museum".
A lot of the objects on display are also his personal collection carved intricately with diamonds and rubies studded in gold and silver.
The museum also features the massive wardrobe of the sixth Nizam measuring several meters, a 150-year-old manually operated lift and 200-year-old proclamation drums, Khan added.
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