Paris (France), Sept 18: Would anyone remain silent if jewelry worth a staggering Rs.53 crore were stolen? Yet, the verdict delivered by a Paris court in the case of famous Hollywood star Kim Kardashian is sure to leave anyone stunned for a moment. This is because, following a lengthy trial spanning nearly a decade regarding the Paris hotel robbery that shocked the world in 2016, the court awarded Kim compensation of just 1 Euro—equivalent to a mere Rs.105 in Indian currency! Is this all the actress received after suffering such a massive loss, or is there another reason behind it? Here is the intriguing truth.
What was the incident?
In 2016, while Kim Kardashian was in France to attend Paris Fashion Week, armed robbers broke into the luxury hotel room where she was staying. They bound her hands and feet, locked her in the bathroom, and carried out a terrifying robbery. During the heist, the thieves looted jewelry worth between Rs.57 crore and over Rs. 95 crore (approximately 6 million dollars), including her engagement ring valued at Rs.38 crore. So, why was the compensation only Rs.105?
After a lengthy trial, a Paris court sentenced the perpetrators of the robbery. Kim Kardashian did not seek a large monetary sum as compensation; instead, she requested a symbolic €1, emphasizing the need for the offenders to be punished and for justice to be served regarding the wrong done to her. Accordingly, the French court ordered the perpetrators to pay just €1 in compensation, as requested by Kim. In Indian currency, this one euro currently amounts to approximately Rs.105. Meanwhile, the stylist accompanying her also received just €1.
Following the verdict, Kim Kardashian issued a statement clarifying, “That incident caused us severe trauma. Today’s court ruling is not about the money we were to receive, but rather a symbol of holding the guilty accountable and a victory for us.” However, the court awarded substantial compensation—exceeding Rs.1 crore (€109,516)—to the hotel receptionist who suffered severe psychological trauma during the robbery. Additionally, the hotel was awarded over Rs. 46 lakh (€50,000) in damages. Nevertheless, most of the jewelry Kim Kardashian lost has still not been recovered.