Queen May Face Legal Challenge Over Koh-i-Noor
Queen Elizabeth II may face legal hassle over the world famous Koh-i-Noor diamond.
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A lobby group made up of Indian businessmen
and actors is mounting a legal challenge against Queen Elizabeth II demanding
the return of the world famous Koh-i-Noor diamond to India.
The 105-carat stone, believed to have been mined in India nearly 800 years ago, was presented to Queen Victoria during the Raj and is now set in a crown belonging to the Queen’s mother on public display in the Tower of London.
David de Souza, co-founder of the Indian leisure group Titos, is helping to fund the new legal action and has instructed British lawyers to begin High Court proceedings.
The legal action coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United Kingdom this week, which includes a lunch hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
The campaign has found support in Britain with the likes of Labour party Indian-origin Labour MP Keith Vaz.
In 2013 British Prime Minister David Cameron while on a visit to India, defended Britain’s right to keep it saying he did not believe in “returnism.”