'Handlebar-mustachioed' thief undone by marital brawl; wife's call to police ends 1990 KSRTC bus robber’s 36-year run

KOZHIKODE: A 71-year-old man wanted for an armed bus robbery committed 36 years ago has been arrested by the police after a domestic dispute with his wife inadvertently exposed his identity. The suspect, identified as V. K. Jose, a native of Kozhikode, had been living in Mysuru under the alias Shivakumar since the crime was committed in 1990.

The breakthrough in the decades-old case occurred on Wednesday following a domestic altercation between Jose and his wife in Mysuru. During a heated argument that escalated into a physical scuffle, Jose's wife contacted the police emergency helpline for assistance. Responding to the call, personnel from the Narasimharaja police station in Mysuru conducted a search of the residence.

During the search, officers discovered a country-made gun hidden under a bed, alongside official documents pertaining to Jose’s previous life and residence in Kerala. Local authorities noted that Jose had consistently refused to allow anyone else to clean the area around his bed, a behaviour that had long aroused suspicion. Upon analysing the recovered documents, the Narasimharaja police contacted the Kerala Police to verify his background, which subsequently confirmed his involvement in the 1990 robbery case.

The incident dates back to 1990 in Thiruvambady, Kozhikode, where Jose, then described as a man with a prominent handlebar mustache, allegedly pointed a country-made gun at a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus conductor. The robbery took place at night aboard a bus that was returning after completing its scheduled service from Thiruvambady to Koompara. Jose reportedly robbed the conductor of 200 rupees and ticket books before fleeing the state.

Following the incident, a non-bailable warrant was issued against him by the court. Jose managed to evade law enforcement by relocating to Mysuru, where he gained employment as a painter. He later married a Mysuru native and permanently settled in the area. According to the Thiruvambady police, Jose has no record of other criminal activities during his decades-long stay in Mysuru.

Following his arrest and the verification of his identity, Jose was transferred to the Kozhikode Sub Jail. The Thiruvambady police have announced plans to launch a re-investigation into the 1990 armed robbery case. Thiruvambady Sub-Inspector Ramya stated that the police department will imminently submit a formal application to the court to secure Jose's custody for further interrogation and legal proceedings.