Bhubaneswar: Unidentified intruders broke into the official residence of senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi in the upscale Forest Park locality here, making off with a diamond ring and cash. The house break-in, which took place on Friday, came to light on Sunday when a police team visited the bureaucrat’s residence to begin an investigation.
The high-profile theft occurred close to police commissioner S Dev Datta Singh’s official residence. According to the complaint lodged by Sethi’s wife, Vaishali, at Capital police station, the incident took place between 12.30 am and 9 am. Her FIR reported the theft of a handbag containing cash, two gold earrings, and a diamond ring.
Police noted that the crime happened despite family members being present inside the house. “We have registered a case of theft and house trespass. The window of one of the rooms was open while the family was in another part of the house. The complainant suspects the theft occurred in the early hours of Friday,” said a police officer.
Vaishali later found her bag, debit cards, and documents left behind near the boundary wall. “We are questioning the house watchman and reviewing CCTV footage,” the officer added.
Although burglary cases declined in the city last year, incidents of theft rose in 2025 compared to 2024. Police said they have been working with residential societies to strengthen security protocols, conducting awareness drives on installing locks, CCTV cameras, and maintaining visitor records.
