Notorious burglar, who stole Rs 5 crore assets since 1986, arrested in Bhubaneswar

BHUBANESWAR: The special squad of the commissionerate police here on Monday arrested Hemanta Dash (59), a burglar of sorts, who has allegedly committed at least 500 burglaries across the country since 1986 and stolen cash along with costly household articles worth around Rs 5 crore so far in his life. Still, he claims himself as poor with a bank balance of only Rs 1,400.
The special squad led by assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Sanjeev Satapathy arrested Dash, a resident of Old Town area in Bhubaneswar, from Cuttack. Dash was wanted in three burglaries, one each in Badagada, Capital and Chandrasekharpur police limits.
“We have so far found around 100 burglary cases against him in Bhubaneswar alone. He was arrested earlier also. He has confessed before us that he burgled more than 500 houses with the help of crowbars in the state and outside after 1986. He was also arrested in Mumbai and Chennai in the past,” deputy commissioner of police Uma Shankar Dash said.
The accused splurged the burgled money on call girls and liquor. “During interrogation he told us that he had already looted nearly Rs 5 crore in his life. But we were taken aback to find only Rs 1400 in his bank account. He spent all money in maintaining a lavish life,” the DCP said.
The notorious burglar, whose wife and two children allegedly disowned him because of his criminal activities, was a frequent air traveller. Police said after committing burglaries in houses and commercial establishments, he flew to different cities in flights and stayed in star hotels. He used to spend between Rs 7,000 and Rs 10,000 per day in hotels.
Dash told the police that he was a meritorious student in his college days. He had reportedly secured 89% in Plus-II Arts in prestigious BJB College here. Dash was arrested in 1986 in connection with a students’ unrest on the college campus. In the jail, he came in contact with some burglars and started treading the wrong path.
“We will take him on remand for interrogation and to know whether he was involved in other crimes in Bhubaneswar and other places in the state,” the DCP said.
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