'Bihar Robinhood' targetted four homes in Kerala

KOCHI: Mohammad Irfan, the burglar who stole gold and diamond ornaments worth Rs 1.20 crores from director Joshiy's house, had tried to commit robbery in three more houses in Panampilly Nagar. Irfan, who became infamous as 'Bihar Robinhood', told the police that he left those three houses and went to Joshiy's house as he was unable to break the doors and windows of those houses.

Irfan drove from Bihar and reached Kochi at 7 pm on Friday and parked the car on the roadside. He went around 'B Street' in Panampilly Nagar where the rich live and spotted the houses that he wanted to target. He then returned to the car and slept inside it. He set out for the robbery at around one o'clock in the night. He wore a hat and covered his face with a shawl. He wore socks in his hands.

However, Irfan's "operation" did not succeed in the first three houses. He then went to the fourth house with his mind determined to carry out the robbery. He reached Joshiy's house at around 1.45 am. There was no iron grill in the kitchen window of the house. He got inside the house after removing the glass using a screwdriver. He soon found gold and diamond ornaments on the first floor of the house. The fact that the locker was not locked made things even more easy for him. Irfan thus quickly committed the robbery and left Kochi within two hours.

Joshiy first complained by calling the police control room number 100 at 6 in the morning.

The police soon reached the spot and checked the CCTV footage obtained from the house and the nearby areas. The police initially struggled with the investigation as the thief wore a mask and the vehicle number of the thief was not clear. However, the investigation soon gained speed as the police obtained the number of the car from a CCTV camera in Ernakulam North region. Kochi City Commissioner S Shyamsundar sought the help of Karnataka City Additional Commissioner Ramangupta after it became clear that the Maharashtra registration car had crossed the Thalappady border on Saturday afternoon. Ramangupta then quickly informed the SPs of Udupi, Mangaluru and Karwar about the matter. By that time, Kota police had taken Irfan into custody during a vehicle inspection.

The investigation was led by Ernakulam Central ACP P. Rajkumar under the supervision of Kochi City Deputy Commissioner KS Sudarshan.