The Bhutanese Leading the way.
A Bhutanese national and two Indian nationals were arrested after Jaigaon Police seized six small gold biscuits suspected to be smuggled from a jewellery shop near the Bhutan Gate and recovered Nu 2 million allegedly received from the sale of the gold.
The arrests were made on the night of August 30, 2026 following a tip-off about the alleged sale of gold bars by a Bhutanese national at Maa Sharda Jewellers Shop on NS Road, Jaigaon.
According to Jaigaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge SI Mingma Sherpa, police received the information about the illegal sale.
A police team subsequently reached the jewellery shop and detained three persons.
The arrested persons have been identified as 32-year-old Phuntsok Wangdi, a Bhutanese national, and two Indian nationals, 53-year-old Rabi Sha and 30-year-old Manish Sha, both residents of Jaigaon.
SI Mingma Sherpa said that during the search of the jewellery shop, police recovered six suspected gold bars, each weighing approximately 20 grams bearing the name “Emirates Gold”.
He said the three accused were unable to produce relevant documents or customs papers concerning the possession or purchase of the gold.
The seized gold has not yet been authenticated and is currently under examination as part of the investigation.
Police also recovered Bhutanese currency amounting to Nu 2 million from a vehicle allegedly used by Phuntsok Wangdi.
According to police, the money is suspected to be proceeds received from the Indian jewellery shop owners following the sale of the gold bars.
During questioning, Wangdi reportedly told police that he had purchased the gold bars from a duty-free outlet in Phuentsholing, Bhutan, before bringing them to India and selling them to the Indian jewellery shop.
The case has been registered under Sections 303(2), 317(2) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), read with Section 112 of the Customs Act.
Section 303(2) BNS is Punishment for Theft.This section covers simple theft (taking movable property out of someone’s possession without consent). It carries a punishment of not less than one year and can extend to five years and with fine.
Section 317(2) BNS is for Receiving or Retaining Stolen Property. This punishes anyone who dishonestly receives or retains property knowing (or having reason to believe) it is stolen or illegally acquired. It carries a punishment of up to 3 years imprisonment, or a fine, or both.
Section 61(2) BNS is for Criminal Conspiracy. This section addresses the agreement between two or more people to commit an illegal act. The punishment is for a term not exceeding six months, or with fine or with both.
Section 112 of the Customs Act, Penalty for Improper Importation of Goods. This is a civil/monetary penalty provision applied to anyone who handles, stores, conceals, buys, sells, or helps smuggle goods that they know are liable for confiscation under Section 111 of the Customs Act. The penalty can scale up to the full value of the goods or a multi-fold amount of the duty evaded.
Police said these provisions are, at this preliminary stage, applicable to all three accused.
The three accused were produced before the Alipurduar Court on August 31, 2026. Police initially reported that four days of police remand had been granted.
However, SI Mingma Sherpa said that on September 4, 2026, during the hearing, all three accused were taken into five days’ police remand for further interrogation and investigation.
Police are investigating whether the transaction was an isolated incident or part of a larger gold smuggling or illegal trading network.
Jaigaon police said that they have informed Bhutanese authorities, including Phuentsholing Police Station, about the case.
