The Central government on Monday told the Supreme Court that the Kohinoor diamond was not stolen by the British but was in fact gifted by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.


The Centre's reply comes after the apex court had asked the government to clarify its stand on a PIL seeking return of Kohinoor diamond in the country. The reply is contradictory to the stand taken by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).


That stand, the Supreme Court has warned, could mean "You will face a problem in the future for making any legitimate claim" to the 105-carat diamond.


The apex court was hearing a PIL filed by All India Human Rights & Social Justice Front seeking directions to the High Commissioner of United Kingdom for return of the diamond besides several other treasures.
The PIL has made Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Culture, High Commissioners of UK, Pakistan and Bangladesh as parties in the case.

It has also sought return of the "ring and talwar of Tipu Sultan and other treasures of Tipu Sultan, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Rani of Jhansi, Nawab Mir Ahmad Ali Banda and other rulers of India.