Jaipur haveli owner alleges contractor stole crores in treasure found during demolition
Synopsis
A Jaipur haveli owner claims his contractor secretly pocketed crores in buried treasure — silver ingots, gold-coin-filled earthen pots, and thousands of antique coins — found during demolition at a centuries-old property in Tripolia Bazaar. Police have filed an FIR but say the discovery itself is yet to be verified, making the forensic examination of two submitted videos the linchpin of the entire case.
Key Takeaways
Rahul Sethi of Gandhi Nagar, Jaipur has alleged that treasure worth crores was found and misappropriated during demolition of his ancestral haveli at Tripolia Bazaar .
The alleged haul includes 10–15 silver ingots (~ 40–45 kg ), 14–15 earthen pots reportedly filled with gold coins, and 8,000–10,000 antique silver coins .
Contractor Mahesh Malhotra (alias Chhotu ) and associates are named in the FIR for allegedly concealing and dividing the items.
Manak Chowk Police have registered a case under Section 316(5) of the BNS and are investigating.
Police have confirmed the alleged discovery is not yet verified ; forensic examination of two videos submitted as evidence is pending.
A Jaipur haveli owner has alleged that a contractor and his associates concealed and misappropriated treasure worth crores of rupees — including silver ingots, gold coins, and antique silver coins — unearthed during demolition work at an ancestral property in the city's historic walled quarter. Manak Chowk Police Station has registered an FIR and launched an investigation, though police have clarified that the alleged discovery has not yet been officially verified.
What the Complaint Alleges
According to the FIR, Rahul Sethi, a resident of Gandhi Nagar, owns an ancestral property at Building No. 630, Tripolia Bazaar. He had engaged a contractor to demolish the old structure and erect a new building in its place. Sethi reportedly instructed the contractor at the outset that any valuables or historical objects found during excavation were to be handed over to the family.
The complainant alleges that workers discovered 10–15 silver ingots weighing approximately 40–45 kilograms, 14–15 earthen pots reportedly filled with gold coins, and between 8,000 and 10,000 antique silver coins. He claims contractor Mahesh Malhotra, also known as Chhotu, and his associates concealed the items and divided them among themselves without informing the owner.
How the Owner Found Out
Sethi told police he learned of the alleged find through a person connected to the construction work. He has submitted two videos as evidence — stored on a pen drive — which he claims contain references to the recovery and distribution of the treasure. Police are expected to conduct a forensic examination of the footage.
Legal Action and Police Response
Manak Chowk Police have registered a case under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigators are set to question contractor Malhotra and others named in the complaint. Police have emphasised that the alleged discovery carries no official confirmation at this stage, and that the authenticity of the complaint, videos, and associated evidence will be central to the investigation.
Context: The Haveli and Its History
The property is situated in one of Jaipur's oldest neighbourhoods and is locally believed to have once belonged to a wealthy merchant family — a detail that has fuelled speculation about hidden valuables. Tripolia Bazaar, located within Jaipur's walled city, is a historically significant commercial corridor dating back to the Kachwaha Rajput era. Discoveries of buried wealth in havelis of this vintage, while rare, are not without precedent in Rajasthan's older urban settlements. However, authorities have been careful to distinguish between allegation and established fact in this case.
What Happens Next
The investigation will hinge on the forensic analysis of the submitted videos and the statements of the contractor and his associates. Should the alleged treasure be confirmed as genuine, questions of legal ownership — including potential applicability of the Treasure Trove Act — may also arise. For now, police say the probe is at an early stage and all findings remain preliminary.
Point of View
Historical artefact law, and criminal misappropriation — and police are right to be cautious. The alleged treasure has not been recovered or confirmed, which means the entire prosecution currently rests on two videos of unverified provenance. If the footage holds up forensically, this becomes a significant test of the BNS's misappropriation provisions. But if the videos are inconclusive, the case risks collapsing without a single recovered coin. The broader issue — what legal framework governs buried valuables found on private property in India — rarely gets public attention until a case like this surfaces. The Treasure Trove Act's application here, should the treasure be real, would be worth watching closely.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What treasure was allegedly found at the Jaipur haveli?
The complainant alleges workers unearthed 10–15 silver ingots weighing 40–45 kilograms, 14–15 earthen pots reportedly filled with gold coins, and between 8,000 and 10,000 antique silver coins during demolition of an ancestral property at Tripolia Bazaar, Jaipur. Police have not confirmed whether any treasure was actually discovered.
Who has been accused in the Jaipur treasure misappropriation case?
Haveli owner Rahul Sethi has accused contractor Mahesh Malhotra, also known as Chhotu, and his associates of concealing the alleged treasure and dividing it among themselves without informing the property owner.
What legal action has been taken so far?
Manak Chowk Police Station in Jaipur has registered an FIR under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigators plan to question the contractor and others named in the complaint while examining the evidence.
What evidence has been submitted to police?
The complainant has submitted two videos stored on a pen drive, which he claims contain references to the recovery and distribution of the alleged treasure. Police are expected to send the videos for forensic examination.
Has the treasure been officially confirmed?
No. Police have explicitly stated that the alleged discovery has not been verified. The investigation is ongoing, and the authenticity of the complaint and submitted evidence will determine the facts of the case.
