Ex-NRI robs Kerala bank to support lavish lifestyle, hide debt from wife

Police who arrested Rijo Anthony, (51) for robbing Rs1.5 million from a bank in Chalakkudy, Kerala, said he resorted to the extreme measure to support his lavish lifestyle. According to reports, his wife employed as a nurse in Kuwait, is the provider of the family.

Police said he accumulated a debt of Rs5 million without his wife being aware of it and panicked when he was told she was returning home. According to reports, the Angamaly native planned the robbery to cover up his debt.

He chose the Potta branch of Federal Bank after careful study. 4 days prior to the crime, he visited the branch on the pretext of checking the validity of an expired ATM card. His intention was the check the surroundings and the security system of the bank, according to police.

The robbery occurred on February 14 during the lunch break. The employees were held at knifepoint and locked up in a room, according to reports. During the robbery, Rijo chose to speak only in Hindi, which was aimed at misleading the police, who initially thought migrant workers were behind the robbery. Rijo also made minor alterations to his appearance and the scooter to mislead the police.

Rijo was arrested after a massive manhunt involving careful examination of evidence and CCTV footage in the area which convinced the police that the robber hadn’t left the state.

Rijo was following the development of the investigation through his phone and even organized a family meeting at home. He was arrested on Sunday and admitted to the crime on persistent questioning.