Police reveal he accumulated Rs 5 million in debt without his wife’s knowledge
A 51-year-old former NRI, Rijo Anthony, was arrested for robbing Rs 1.5 million from a bank in Chalakkudy, Kerala. According to police, he resorted to the crime to maintain his extravagant lifestyle and conceal his mounting debt from his wife, who works as a nurse in Kuwait and is the family’s primary provider, reported /gulfnews.com.
He planned the robbery to cover massive debt before wife’s return.
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Investigators revealed that Rijo had accumulated Rs 5 million in debt without his wife’s knowledge
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When he learned of her impending return, he panicked and devised a plan to rob a bank to settle his liabilities
He meticulously chose the Potta branch of Federal Bank after conducting a detailed study. Four days before the robbery, he visited the branch under the guise of verifying an expired ATM card, assessing the security measures and surroundings.
Disguises and deception to mislead police
The robbery took place on February 14 during the lunch break. Rijo held employees at knifepoint, locked them in a room, and looted the money. To mislead the police, he spoke only in Hindi, attempting to create the impression that migrant workers were behind the crime. He also made minor changes to his appearance and modified his scooter to avoid detection.
However, a large-scale police investigation, including extensive analysis of CCTV footage, confirmed that the suspect was still in the state. Rijo, closely monitoring the investigation through his phone, even held a family meeting to avoid suspicion. His efforts failed when persistent police questioning led him to confess to the crime on Sunday.
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