700-Year-Old Quran Stolen From Hindu Owner in Rajasthan

A copy of the Quran that was 700-year-old was stolen from its Hindu owner in Rajasthan's Beawar town, 160 kms from the state capital of Jaipur. 55-year-old Jaidev Prasad Sharma said the Quran was gifted to him by a friend in 2011.

On Tuesday evening, a man who he occasionally did business with visited him at home with another man and asked to see the Quran. While Mr Sharma was briefly distracted by a phone call, the visitor allegedly pulled a gun on him. The two outsiders then stole the Quran and rode away on a motorcycle.  

Heartbroken at having lost a valuable piece of heritage Jaidev said he never wanted to sell the book and despite being a Hindu he had venerated it, his dream was to pass it on to his daughter.

"The Quran had a speciality", Mr Sharma said, "It had calligraphy in gold and also used sapphire." He said he had hoped to pass on the heirloom to his daughter.

Registering a case the police said the book was probably stolen because of its antique value and precious stones.