'Bank manager was a fool, he backed away soon after I showed the knife'; Rijo tells police

THRISSUR: The statement of Rijo Antony, the accused in the Chalakudy bank robbery case, has come out. Rijo told the police that he did not intend to take all the money from the bank. He said that he left the bank after ensuring that he had taken the amount he needed.

Rijo also stated that the bank manager was a fool and quickly backed away soon after he threatened him with a knife. Rijo added that he would have backed out from the theft if the bank employees had resisted. Meanwhile, bank manager, PG Babu expressed his happiness at the arrest of the accused.

During a search of Rijo's residence earlier this morning, the police recovered Rs 12 lakh of the Rs 15 lakh stolen from the bank. It was revealed that Rijo had used Rs 2.94 lakh of the stolen money to settle a debt with a person from Annanadu. Of this, Rs 2.29 lakh was returned to the police station by the individual. Additionally, the knife used to threaten bank employees and the clothes worn by Rijo during the theft were found at his home. The police plan to take Rijo to the bank where the crime occurred for further investigation and are expected to present him in court later today.