A Diamond District jewelry broker claims cops in Connecticut
won’t return a “hot” rock even though their case is ice cold.
Malidani Jewelry Corp. sued the Greenwich Police Department
yesterday over a massive diamond ring seized during a stolen-goods probe nearly
a decade ago.
The Manhattan federal court filing says the 7.74-carat
sparkler is worth at least $175,000, and seeks more than $1 million in damages.
The ring was handed over to a Greenwich detective who visited
the West 47th Street store in April 2003 and demanded any items that Malidani
purchased from a Queens man in 1998.
Malidani says it bought the ring after a “thorough inquiry
as to the true identity of the proposed seller and in compliance with the laws
of the city and state.”
But after a “prolonged and completely unsuccessful
investigation,” the Greenwich Police Department has refused to return the ring,
even though its original owner hasn’t been identified, court papers charge.
Greenwich Police Chief Jim Heavey, named as a defendant in the suit, didn’t
return requests for comment.