Jaipur treasure case: 5 arrested, 66.4 kg silver recovered from Tripolia Bazaar haveli
Synopsis
Nearly a year after labourers allegedly pocketed a hidden hoard of silver ingots and thousands of old coins from a demolished Jaipur haveli, police cracked the case by tracking lifestyle changes — not cameras. With 66.4 kg of silver recovered and five arrested, investigators say the full haul, possibly including gold coins and thousands more silver pieces, is still unaccounted for.
Key Takeaways
Manak Chowk police, Jaipur arrested five persons on 8 August 2026 in connection with the Tripolia Bazaar haveli treasure case .
66.4 kg of silver was recovered from the accused; police suspect the original haul included 10–15 silver ingots (40–45 kg) and between 8,000 and 10,000 old silver coins .
The alleged theft occurred during demolition at House No.
630, Vidyadhar Ka Rasta ; a police report was filed on 15 July 2026 .
The accused — including Mahesh Malhotra alias Chhotu — were identified partly through suspicious changes in their spending and lifestyle.
No CCTV footage was available as the incident took place nearly 10 months before arrests; police used call records, informants, and surveillance instead.
Interrogation is ongoing to trace remaining valuables and identify other possible suspects.
Manak Chowk police in Jaipur have arrested five persons and recovered 66.4 kg of silver nearly 10 months after labourers allegedly unearthed hidden valuables while demolishing an old haveli in Tripolia Bazaar — and quietly divided the haul among themselves instead of informing the property owner. Investigators are now working to trace the remaining valuables and determine whether others were involved.
How the Alleged Theft Unfolded
According to DCP (North) Jaipur Karan Sharma, demolition work was carried out at House No. 630, Vidyadhar Ka Rasta, Tripolia Bazaar, as part of a new construction project. A report concerning the demolition was lodged at Manak Chowk police station on 15 July 2026. During the work, a labourer allegedly discovered valuables concealed within the old structure and debris. Rather than alerting the house owner, he reportedly shared the find with his associates.
Police investigation revealed that the group allegedly recovered around 10 to 15 silver ingots weighing approximately 40–45 kg, along with old gold and silver coins. Officials suspect the haul included between 8,000 and 10,000 old silver coins and other valuables. The labourer, identified as Mahesh Malhotra alias Chhotu, allegedly distributed the valuables among himself and his associates.
Suspects Identified Through Lifestyle Changes
Investigators noticed marked shifts in the financial circumstances and spending patterns of several suspects — individuals who had previously worked as ordinary labourers. These changes drew police scrutiny and triggered a deeper probe. Since the incident had occurred nearly 10 months earlier, CCTV footage was no longer available and the haveli had been completely demolished by the time the investigation intensified.
The Manak Chowk police team, working alongside the District Special Team (DST), Jaipur North, relied on technical investigation, call detail records, informant networks, and sustained surveillance. Mobile records and the suspects' movements across Jaipur and surrounding areas were examined to build a picture of their activities and financial dealings.
The Arrested Accused
Five persons have been arrested in connection with the case. They have been identified as Mahesh Malhotra (46), Jagdish Rajoria (51), Omprakash Khichi alias Pappu (54), and Rajni Malhotra (36) — all residents of Mandi Khatikan, Ramganj — and Anuj Arora (28), a resident of Lakshminarayanpuri, Ramganj. A total of 66.400 kg of silver was recovered from their possession.
Investigation Ongoing
Interrogation of the arrested accused is continuing. Police are working to establish the whereabouts of the remaining valuables — including the suspected gold coins and additional silver — and to determine whether others participated in the alleged misappropriation. The case underscores the challenges of investigating incidents where physical evidence and surveillance footage are lost to time and demolition. Further arrests are not ruled out as the probe advances.
Point of View
Poorly documented — creates a grey zone where hidden assets can change hands without a paper trail. The fact that police cracked this not through CCTV but through lifestyle surveillance raises its own questions: how often do such finds go entirely unreported, with no lifestyle change conspicuous enough to attract scrutiny? The suspected scale of the original haul — thousands of coins, possible gold — versus the 66.4 kg recovered so far suggests a significant portion remains unaccounted for. Whether the investigation reaches that remainder will test the limits of call-record forensics alone.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jaipur Tripolia Bazaar haveli treasure case?
It is a case in which labourers allegedly discovered silver ingots, gold coins, and thousands of old silver coins hidden inside an old haveli at House No. 630, Vidyadhar Ka Rasta, Tripolia Bazaar, Jaipur, during demolition work. Instead of informing the property owner, they allegedly divided the valuables among themselves. Manak Chowk police filed a case and arrested five persons nearly 10 months later, recovering 66.4 kg of silver.
Who are the five persons arrested in the Jaipur silver recovery case?
The five arrested are Mahesh Malhotra (46), Jagdish Rajoria (51), Omprakash Khichi alias Pappu (54), and Rajni Malhotra (36) — all from Mandi Khatikan, Ramganj — and Anuj Arora (28) from Lakshminarayanpuri, Ramganj, Jaipur. Mahesh Malhotra, also known as Chhotu, is identified as the labourer who allegedly first found and distributed the valuables.
How much silver and other valuables were allegedly found in the haveli?
Police suspect the original haul included 10 to 15 silver ingots weighing approximately 40–45 kg, along with between 8,000 and 10,000 old silver coins and other valuables, possibly including gold coins. So far, 66.4 kg of silver has been recovered from the five arrested accused; the remaining valuables are still being traced.
How did police identify the suspects without CCTV footage?
Since the incident occurred nearly 10 months before arrests and the haveli had been fully demolished, no CCTV footage was available. The Manak Chowk police team and the District Special Team (DST), Jaipur North, identified suspects by tracking unusual changes in their spending patterns and living standards, and corroborated findings through call detail records, informant networks, and surveillance.
Is the investigation in the Jaipur treasure case complete?
No. Interrogation of the five arrested accused is ongoing. Police are working to trace the remaining valuables and determine whether additional individuals were involved in the alleged misappropriation. Further developments are expected as the probe continues.
