Jewellery worth Rs 50L looted from house of former Odisha Minister Niranjan Patnaik in Bhubaneswar

In a bold burglary,a thief made off with jewellery valued at over Rs 50 lakh from the Bhubaneswar residence of Niranjan Patnaik, former Minister and Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) ex-president. The incident has posed a significant challenge to the Commissionerate Police as the culprits remain unidentified. 

The crime occurred in the early hours of Sunday on the occasion of Republic Day, reports from the Nayapalli Police indicate. The thieves targeted a cupboard containing the valuables while the residence was vacant. An investigation has been launched into the burglary. 

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The former Odisha PCC president suspects that a professional thief might be involved, given the apparent use of gloves and other tools by the burglar.

“My son’s family stays on the second floor. The theft occurred at around 2:40 am. My children were not present in the house. The miscreant had also changed the direction of the CCTV inside the room.  When my children returned during late hours, the thief was also present as we noticed from the CCTV footage,” said Patnaik.

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"Despite it being Republic Day and increased security measures in place, the burglar successfully escaped with the valuables. There is rising concern over the increase in theft cases, which undermines the safety and security of ordinary citizens," he added. 

The police are continuing their investigations and have urged the public to report any suspicious activities. The incident highlights the increasing challenges faced by law enforcement in curbing such crimes.

Meanwhile, Odisha CM Mohan Majhi also spoke to Niranjan Patnaik following the robbery at the latter's house.

Speaking on the matter, the CM said "I have asked Niranjan Patnaik to rest assured. Stern action will be taken against the culprit and there is no question of sparing anyone. The DGP and SP have been ordered to nab the culprit as soon as possible"