GUWAHATI: A stolen heritage watch belonging to football legend Diego Maradona has landed in Sivasagar, Assam. The watch, a limited edition, Hublot, made exclusively for Maradona was recovered from the Charaideo district of the State. The market value of the watch at present is Rs 15 lakh, however, the watch seized by Assam Police is estimated to be worth around Rs 50 lakh, as it is the only piece designed for the ‘Hand of God’ (Maradona). The exact value is yet to be ascertained. The watch belonged to the legendary football player himself, which was being stored in Dubai along with other belongings in a safe, tweeted Assam DGP Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta.
Based on the input shared by Special DGP GP Singh, the Sivasagar Police successfully recovered the heritage watch belonging to football legend Diego Maradona and apprehended the culprit. The Sivasagar Police arrested one Wazid Hussein in this connection.
Journey of the watch to Assam
Wazid Hussein had gone to Dubai in 2016 to work as a helper. As per police sources, he worked as a domestic help at Diego Maradona's residence in Dubai. He had taken the watch and purportedly fled to Assam in between the five years he worked there in Dubai. Further investigation on the matter is underway.
Meanwhile, the accused has claimed that the watch was gifted to him by an international citizen. Police sources said that the accused had not cooperated with the investigation. The Assam Police are awaiting contact from Dubai Police regarding whether to take the matter forward in terms of handing him over or not.
How the investigation unfolded -
An operation was launched on December 10 to seize the watch and catch Wazid Hussein. His residence was raided in Sivasagar, however, the watch was recovered from his in-laws' residence in Charaideo district of Assam. The Sivasagar Police arrested Hussein on December 11, morning from Chairaideo.
The parents of the accused have claimed that after returning from Dubai, Wazid lived with his in-laws. As per the police, the version of the Wazid differs from the information and investigation is going to unearth the truth. The police doubt that there must be other stolen items in his possession.
The question of the worth of the watch has been raised by many. Police sources say that the exact price is difficult to ascertain as it is a special limited edition but the base market value of just the watch is Rs 15 lakh.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma has claimed the bust to be "an act of international cooperation between the Assam Police and Dubai Police."
"In an act of international cooperation, Assam police has coordinated with Dubai Police HQ through Indian federal LEA to recover a heritage Hublot watch belonging to legendary footballer Late Diego Maradona and arrested one Wazid Hussein. Follow-up lawful action is being taken," the CM tweeted.
Diego Armando Maradona was an Argentine professional football player and manager. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, he was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award.