In a significant breakthrough, the Cuttack Urban Police District arrested Tapas Maity, a 40-year-old gold and silver smith from West Bengal, accused of defrauding local jewellers of precious metals worth lakhs of rupees. He was produced before the court on February 23, 2026.
Case Background
The case traces back to June 15, 2025, when Ramesh Kumar Deo (42), a jeweller from Kazi Bazar, filed a complaint at Lalbag Police Station. Deo and several other jewellers had entrusted Maity with 1 kg 887 grams of gold and 784 grams of silver to craft ornaments. Maity, who operated a workshop in Alamchand Bazar, allegedly failed to deliver the finished products while retaining the metals under various pretexts.
By April 2025, victims discovered Maity had fled both his shop and rented residence. Phone confrontations reportedly resulted in threats involving “Bangladeshi goons,” prompting the formal registration of Lalbag PS Case No. 244 under sections 318(4), 316(2), 316(5), 296, and 351(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), covering cheating, criminal breach of trust, and criminal intimidation.
Arrest and Recovery
After nearly a year on the run, police traced Maity to Tulia. On February 20, 2026, a joint team from Lalbag PS and Tamluk Police Station raided the location, arresting him and recovering:
147 bracelet-like items resembling silver, weighing ~4 kg 450 grams
Additional round-shaped objects resembling silver, weighing ~550 grams
Recoveries were made in the presence of independent witnesses.
Background and Investigation
Maity hails from Harekrishnapur under Daspur PS, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, but had been residing in Kazi Bazar, Cuttack, during his fraudulent activities. He was formally remanded to judicial custody after being forwarded to court on February 23. Investigators are probing potential links to similar frauds or organised networks.
Arresting Officers
The operation was led by Inspector Satyabrata Bhutia, with assistance from SI Subhrajit Mangual, OAPF/255 Niranjan Hikaka, and OAPF/163 Pratima Kanhar.
The investigation remains ongoing to determine the full extent of the fraud and any connections to larger networks.
