Satish Jakhu, of Birmingham-based law firm Rubric Lois King, said they would make their claim under the common law doctrine of 'trespass to goods', arguing that the Government had stolen the diamond. The proceedings will begin in London’s High Court, though he added they would also be taking the case to the International Court of Justice.

‘Dubious circumstance’

Among the group of Indiana supporting the campaign is David de Souza of the leisure group Tito's, who commented: ‘The Koh-i-Noor is one of the many artefacts taken from India under dubious circumstance,’ adding that the theft of artefacts and wealth during colonisation had 'destroyed the country's psyche'. The £100m oval diamond was unearthed at the Kollur Mine in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and handed over to Queen Victoria in 1851 after the British annexe of the Punjab.

Off the agenda

The Queen will be hosting a lunch for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Buckingham Palace, though a discussion regarding the rightful owner of the diamond is strictly off the agenda. The Government has previously rejected demands for the return of the Koh-i-noor to India. Source: Yahoo News