Bombay High Court raps Mumbai University over auction of coins: This is heritage

The Bombay High Court has expressed serious concerns over Mumbai University’s handling of its historic coin collection, questioning the institution’s inaction in preserving its heritage while allowing valuable coins to be auctioned off.
During a hearing on Tuesday, Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar were addressing a petition from the Mumbai Coin Society, which highlighted the alarming state of the Dinesh Mody Numismatic Museum located on the university’s Kalina Campus.

The museum, which once boasted a collection of over 25,000 coins, is currently described as little more than “empty space” with only a few non-antique coins remaining.
The collection was originally donated by Dinesh Mody in the early 1990s and was intended for public preservation and academic study. However, allegations have surfaced that a significant number of these coins have either been lost or improperly auctioned off, with some appearing in auctions conducted by the Classic Numismatic Gallery in Ahmedabad.

Furthermore, there are claims that Mody retained some of the coins he originally donated.
During the proceedings, the bench questioned Advocate Rui Rodriguez, representing the university, about the lack of action to recover the lost property. “Have you registered an FIR?” asked Justice Upadhyaya, emphasizing the cultural and historical value of the coins. Rodriguez admitted that while they had been in communication with Mody to recover the coins, no FIR had been filed.
“It was property of the university. No steps are taken. Enquiry is of no consequence. Your property is siphoned off, and you are kept quiet. This is not just the property of the university. Beyond the metal of the coin, it has value. This is the property of the people of this country. This is heritage. What are you doing? Did you require any court order to search for the coins?” the bench stated.
In response to the gravity of the situation, the court ordered both Mody and the numismatic gallery to prepare an inventory of the coins in their possession and to file affidavits detailing the auction history of the coins that belonged to the university. The court also instructed that any remaining coins be handed over to the High Court Porthonotary for safekeeping.
The bench noted that the coins represent more than mere monetary value; they carry significant historical and cultural significance, deserving preservation for academic study and research across various fields, including history and archaeology.
Affidavits are to be submitted by October 22, with the case scheduled for further hearing on November 13.