KOLKATA/HOWRAH: For 13 years, 46-year-old Amit Dutta lived a double life — a wealthy, pleasant, and useful neighbour by day, and a bedraggled thief by evening. On the evening of June 5, Dutta’s luck ran out after Howrah rural police caught him making an attempt to interrupt into a house in Rajapur. Questioning him led police to his palatial residence in Nodakhali a day later. The three-storied home, replete with a treadmill, bathtub-fitted rest room, marble flooring and chandeliers, was, paradoxically, saved beneath CCTV surveillance to pre-empt thefts. Dutta, at present in police custody, claimed that he paid “earnings tax” for his earnings, not too long ago went to Indonesia for a trip, and has additionally booked a sedan.
Dutta’s modus operandi was subtle but easy. Each morning, he crossed the Bhagirathi river from Budge Budge to areas in Uluberia, Rajapur, Bauria, and Panchla. He would then turn into tattered garments and a lungi, posing as a ragpicker to scout potential targets. His experience in lock-picking and desire for rich properties, the place he targeted on stealing money and jewelry, led to his “success”.The Howrah rural police, probing a number of lakhs value of theft of money and jewelry from Uluberia businessman Bhaktipada Mondal’s home on Wednesday, acquired a tip that the thief would strive one other break-in at one other businessman’s residence in Rajapur’s Haldarpara on Thursday evening. Police in plain garments laid a lure and waited for Dutta to aim the break-in. He was caught red-handed.Police mentioned they’re digging up previous unsolved theft case recordsdata in Uluberia, Nimdighi, and Rajapur police stations over the previous decade. When Rajapur cops contacted their Nodakhali counterparts to “cross-check” Dutta’s residence handle and “prison antecedents”, the data relayed again prompted a Howrah and South 24-Parganas police workforce to raid Dutta’s sprawling mansion with the accused.On this home, Dutta lived together with his spouse, son, and daughter-in-law. The home is supplied with luxurious objects, together with chandeliers, a bath, gymnasium gear, air conditioners, costly electronics, and a rigorously maintained backyard. “Dutta even used the stolen cash to journey to Indonesia together with his household and, remarkably, paid common earnings tax on his unlawful earnings. He not too long ago booked a automotive, only a week earlier than his arrest. These are being verified,” an officer mentioned.Police sources described Dutta as very smart, typically trying to mislead investigators with contra-dictory statements. Initially, he supplied false identif-ication however finally revealed his true id beneath questioning. The case has shocked native residents, notably in Batanagar, the place Dutta earlier lived in a small tin-roofed home 13 years in the past. His neighbour, Samar Pramanik, mentioned the supply of Dutta’s obvious wealth is now clear to everybody. Locals mentioned Dutta was very pleasant and useful, even donating big quantities to the native membership and taking part actively in all membership actions. The accused is at present in police custody as investigations proceed to probe his intensive prison actions throughout a number of jurisdictions.