Did Russian President Vladimir Putin really pocket a Super Bowl ring?

Last week at an awards gala held in New York, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft accused the Russian leader of stealing his diamond-encrusted prize ring during a meeting eight years ago.

According to a report of the New York Post, the incident happened in 2005 when Kraft visited St. Petersburg in Russia.

During a meeting, the team owner allegedly took out his Super Bowl ring and showed it to Mr. Putin. "I can kill someone with this ring," the Russian President apparently told Mr. Kraft while putting the ring on.

When the team owner stretched out his hand to get the ring back, Mr. Putin allegedly slid the ring into his pocket, and then left the meeting with his three KGB escorts.

On Saturday, however, the Russian leader fought back and through his spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied the allegation. No way did the incident ever happen and Mr. Putin did not steal the Super Bowl ring, according to Mr. Peskov.

The spokesperson said Mr. Kraft's allegations are "weird." He said he was there during the meeting and was standing just inches away when he witnessed how Mr. Kraft handed the ring as a gift.

Mr. Peskov added that the ring is now being kept as an official state gift at the Kremlin's library.

Apparently, Mr. Kraft made the revelation last week since he couldn't stand the masquerade anymore. As a patriot, he said he only played along to what the White House wanted him to do.

He said when he requested his ring back upon his return to the US, he was asked by authorities to just claim that he already gave the ring as a gift. He said the White House instructed this to avoid straining US relationship with Russia, according to the New York Post.

Perhaps Mr. Kraft felt eight years was a long time to cooperate, and so this is the time to get his possession back. When reached for comment, however, the New England Patriots refused to issue any.

The White House, meanwhile, has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.