The Commissioner of the Archeology Department has valued the ancient artifacts that were recently stolen from the National Museum at Rs. 50 lakhs, sources from the Archeology Department said.

When journalists have questioned the Archeology Commissioner about the surprising formula used to value the artifacts, he has said that Rs. 50 lakhs would be the cost to replace these artifacts and that the historical value is not added to the valuation.

One journalist has then pointed out that it costs only US$ 50 to draw the world famous Mona Lisa painting by any artist on a canvas and asked whether the original painting by Leonardo Da Vinci could be given such a value.

The Commissioner had been speechless and the journalist had then asked, “Are you the Archeology Commissioner or the Duplicate Commissioner?”