Kolkata Police arrest youth in ₹35 lakh jewellery theft; 172 gm gold recovered
Synopsis
A 21-year-old allegedly stole ₹35 lakh in gold and cash from a Kolkata home while the owners were at work — then reportedly blew ₹4 lakh at a New Town resort posing as a businessman. The theft also sparked a cross-border family crisis, pulling the victim's daughter back from Canada after her husband wrongly suspected his in-laws.
Key Takeaways
Asif Hossain , 21 , was arrested by Kolkata Police's Detective Department Theft Prevention Wing on 29 July .
The theft targeted a couple's home on M.M.
Ali Road, Ekbalpur ; 201 grams of gold jewellery and ₹4 lakh cash were reported stolen.
Total estimated value of stolen goods: approximately ₹35 lakh .
Around 172 grams of gold was recovered from a concealed compartment at the accused's Entally residence.
The accused allegedly spent nearly ₹4 lakh at a Rajarhat resort, where he was eventually traced and arrested.
The theft triggered a family dispute, prompting the couple's daughter to return from Canada before a complaint was filed.
Kolkata Police have arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly stealing gold jewellery and cash worth approximately ₹35 lakh from a residence in the city's Ekbalpur area, officers confirmed on Wednesday, 29 July. The accused was traced to a resort in New Town, where he had reportedly been living under the guise of a businessman.
How the Theft Unfolded
The incident took place at the home of a couple on M.M. Ali Road in Ekbalpur. The couple had locked their house and left for work; on returning, they discovered a cupboard had been forced open — though the main door lock remained intact. According to police, nearly 201 grams of gold jewellery and ₹4 lakh in cash were found missing.
The valuables belonged to the couple's newly married daughter, who had left them in her parents' custody before relocating to Canada with her husband. The theft subsequently triggered a family dispute, with the son-in-law allegedly suspecting his in-laws of misappropriating the items. The daughter returned from Canada, following which a formal complaint was lodged at Ekbalpur Police Station.
The Investigation and Arrest
The Detective Department's Theft Prevention Wing took over the probe and analysed CCTV footage from the surrounding area, eventually identifying Asif Hossain as the prime suspect. Officers tracked him to a resort in the Rajarhat area, where he was arrested. Investigators also found that he had allegedly spent nearly ₹4 lakh at the resort on entertaining companions.
During interrogation, Hossain reportedly told police that the stolen cash had already been spent. A subsequent search of his residence in Entally led to the recovery of approximately 172 grams of gold jewellery concealed inside a hidden compartment within a cupboard.
What Remains and What Comes Next
Police noted that the total gold reported stolen was 201 grams, meaning roughly 29 grams is yet to be accounted for. Officers said efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining items. The case is notable for the family fracture it caused — an allegation of in-law misconduct that drew the daughter back from abroad before the real culprit was identified.
This comes amid a broader pattern of opportunistic residential thefts in Kolkata, where perpetrators exploit working-hours absences. The use of CCTV analysis proved decisive in cracking the case within days of the complaint being filed. Further investigation is continuing, police said.
Point of View
And an international journey was made before the truth emerged. Kolkata Police's rapid CCTV-led identification is commendable, but the fact that the accused spent ₹4 lakh at a resort undetected — posing as a businessman — raises questions about whether hospitality establishments in New Town are conducting adequate identity checks. With 29 grams of gold still unaccounted for and the cash gone, full restitution for the victim family remains unlikely.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Kolkata Ekbalpur jewellery theft case?
Asif Hossain , a 21-year-old resident of Entally, was arrested by the Kolkata Police Detective Department's Theft Prevention Wing in connection with the theft of gold jewellery and cash worth approximately ₹35 lakh from a residence in Ekbalpur.
How much gold was recovered by Kolkata Police?
Around 172 grams of gold jewellery was recovered from a concealed compartment inside a cupboard at the accused's Entally residence. The total amount reported stolen was 201 grams, leaving approximately 29 grams still unaccounted for.
Where was the accused arrested?
Asif Hossain was arrested from a resort in the Rajarhat area of New Town, Kolkata, where he had allegedly been hiding and posing as a businessman after committing the theft.
Why did the theft cause a family dispute?
The stolen jewellery and cash belonged to the couple's newly married daughter, who had left the valuables with her parents before moving to Canada. Her husband allegedly suspected his in-laws of misappropriating the items, prompting the daughter to return from Canada. A formal complaint was filed only after her return.
What happened to the stolen cash?
According to police, the accused told investigators during interrogation that the stolen cash had already been spent. He reportedly used nearly ₹4 lakh at the Rajarhat resort on entertaining companions.
