KOLKATA/HOWRAH: For 13 years, 46-year-old Amit Dutta lived a double life — a rich, friendly, and helpful neighbour by day, and a bedraggled thief by night. On the night of June 5, Dutta’s luck ran out after Howrah rural police caught him trying to break into a home in Rajapur. Questioning him led police to his palatial home in Nodakhali a day later. The three-storied house, replete with a treadmill, bathtub-fitted toilet, marble floors and chandeliers, was, ironically, kept under CCTV surveillance to pre-empt thefts. Dutta, currently in police custody, claimed that he paid “income tax” for his earnings, recently went to Indonesia for a vacation, and has also booked a sedan.
Dutta’s modus operandi was sophisticated yet simple. Every morning, he crossed the Bhagirathi river from Budge Budge to areas in Uluberia, Rajapur, Bauria, and Panchla. He would then change into tattered clothes and a lungi, posing as a ragpicker to scout potential targets. His expertise in lock-picking and preference for wealthy homes, where he focused on stealing cash and jewellery, led to his “success”.The Howrah rural police, probing several lakhs worth of theft of cash and jewellery from Uluberia businessman Bhaktipada Mondal’s house on Wednesday, received a tip that the thief would try another break-in at another businessman’s home in Rajapur’s Haldarpara on Thursday night. Police in plain clothes laid a trap and waited for Dutta to attempt the break-in. He was caught red-handed.Police said they are digging up old unsolved theft case files in Uluberia, Nimdighi, and Rajapur police stations over the past decade. When Rajapur cops contacted their Nodakhali counterparts to “cross-check” Dutta’s home address and “criminal antecedents”, the information relayed back prompted a Howrah and South 24-Parganas police team to raid Dutta’s sprawling mansion with the accused.In this house, Dutta lived with his wife, son, and daughter-in-law. The house is equipped with luxury items, including chandeliers, a bathtub, gym equipment, air conditioners, expensive electronics, and a carefully maintained garden. “Dutta even used the stolen money to travel to Indonesia with his family and, remarkably, paid regular income tax on his illegal earnings. He recently booked a car, just a week before his arrest. These are being verified,” an officer said.Police sources described Dutta as highly intelligent, often attempting to mislead investigators with contra-dictory statements. Initially, he provided false identif-ication but eventually revealed his true identity under questioning. The case has shocked local residents, particularly in Batanagar, where Dutta earlier lived in a small tin-roofed house 13 years ago. His neighbour, Samar Pramanik, said the source of Dutta’s apparent wealth is now clear to everyone. Locals said Dutta was very friendly and helpful, even donating huge amounts to the local club and participating actively in all club activities. The accused is currently in police custody as investigations continue to probe his extensive criminal activities across multiple jurisdictions.
