Maradona’s stolen Hublot watch, worth ₹20 lakh, recovered in Assam

Assam Police on Saturday said they had recovered a limited-edition Hublot watch that once belonged to the football legend Diego Maradona and arrested a man in connection with the theft.

The watch, worth around ₹20 lakh, was recovered from an Assam resident who used to work in Dubai and had recently returned to the state, the police said.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was the first to share the story on Twitter. “In an act of international cooperation @assampolice has coordinated with @dubaipoliceHQ 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.”

In an act of international cooperation @assampolice has coordinated with @dubaipoliceHQ 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. pic.twitter.com/9NWLw6XAKz

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) December 11, 2021

Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said the watch belonged to the Argentine and was being “stored in Dubai along with other belongings in a safe”.

“As informed through central agency by the Dubai Police, one Wazid Hussain had stolen a limited-edition Maradona signed Hublot watch and fled to Assam. Today morning at 4am we arrested Wazid Hussein from his residence in Sibsagar. The limited-edition watch has been recovered from him,” he said.

Also read: A look at Argentine legend Maradona’s playing and coaching careers

Earlier, the official had tweeted: “A costly Hublot watch… Maradona… Dubai… Assam Police Looks like random words, don’t they? But today all these words came together nicely, stating a story of successful International Cooperation between Dubai Police and @assampolice.”

According to the police, Hussein worked as a security guard at a company that was storing Maradona’s belongings. In August he had asked to return to India as his father was unwell.

Maradona was seen wearing two Hublot Big Bang watches during the FIFA World Cup 2010 when Hublot launched its Maradona Big Bang Chronograph Limited Edition.

The watch has his photo, with arms raised in victory, engraved on the back. It also has his signatures and jersey number.

Maradona captivated fans over a two-decade career with a bewitching style of play that was all his own. He died in 2020.