Rijo committed robbery in Chalakkudy in second attempt, a sight caused him to abandon his first attempt

THRISSUR: Rijo Antony (51), the accused in the robbery at the Potta branch of Federal Bank, committed the act on his second attempt. Rijo planned to commit the first attempt four days before the bank robbery. However, he called off the first attempt after seeing a police jeep near the bank. Rijo tried to mislead the police by changing his attire and making minor changes to the vehicle after the robbery. He did not use his mobile phone immediately before or after the robbery. However, the accused had not changed his shoes. The police reached him through this clue.

After the robbery, the accused had been staying with the money in his house near the bank. He had burnt the jacket he wore on the day he committed the crime. The accused decided to commit the crime in the afternoon after observing the activities of the bank for the past few days.

The accused planned the robbery after understanding the time the employees go out of the bank. Although there were 45 lakhs in the bank at the time of the robbery, the accused took only Rs 15 lakhs. This too turned crucial in the police investigation.

The accused suddenly took three bundles of notes. The accused left with the money in his hand, thinking that the people in the bank would call the police. So, Rijo was able to take only Rs 15 lakh.

Rs 2,94,000 from the stolen money was given to a native of Annanadu to pay off the debt. Out of this, Rs 2,29,000 was brought to the police station by the native of Annanadu. He came to know that the accused was Rijo after watching the TV news. He then produced the money.