The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that India cannot stake claim on the Kohinoor diamond as according to the Ministry of Culture, the British did not steal it or forcibly take it from India. Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar said Maharaja Ranjit Singh had given the Kohinoor to the East India Company, ANI reported.

On April 8, the court had asked the government to clarify its stand on the PIL filed by All India Human Rights & Social Justice Front. The petition sought that the diamond and other treasures be returned to India. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur had questioned whether the Centre wanted the case dismissed, warning that it could face issues on similar claims to the Kohinoor in the future. It then directed the central government to file a detailed reply within six weeks.

The plea names the ministries of external affairs and culture and the high commissioners of the United Kingdom, Pakistan and Bangladesh as parties in the case. In addition to the Kohinoor diamond, it has also sought the return of the ring and sword of Tipu Sultan, among other treasures that belonged to him, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Rani of Jhansi, Nawab Mir Ahmad Ali Banda and other historical figures from India.