National award trophy stolen from art director's house

PUNE: Unidentified persons broke into the house of national award-winning art director ShyamBhutkar and stole cash, gold and silver ornaments together worth Rs 3.38 lakh on Monday afternoon. The suspects also made away with the national award trophy that Bhutkar won in 1986 for production design on the film 'Raosaheb' directed by VijayaMehta.
Bhutkar told TOI, "I am more saddened by the theft of my priceless silver lotus trophy than the loss of the money and ornaments.The culprits also stole other trophies awarded to me."
Bhutkar said that he and his wife had gone to attend a marriage function on Monday morning. "When we returned around 6 pm, my wife saw that the lock on our front door was open. When we entered the house, we found clothes from the cupboard strewn on the floor," he said.
He immediately informed the Kothrud police about the theft. Police found that the thieves had broken into the cupboard from the rear, where the safe was located.
"They made away with Rs 25,000, gold ornaments and about 2 kg silver. Most of the silver was gifted to me by friends and well wishers," Bhutkar said. He said that all his awards were kept inside the safe.
Bhutkar's brother, who stays on the same premises, had noticed that the door of the house was open on Monday afternoon. "However, he thought that my wife had returned from the function," Bhutkar said.
Inspector S B Navale of the Kothrud police station said that a case had been registered in this regard. "We are investigating further," Navale said.