Chalakudy bank robbery case: How pot belly and Hindi led to arrest of Rijo Antony

THRISSUR: More details have come to light regarding the robbery at the Federal Bank branch in Potta, Chalakudy. With the help of technology, the investigation team was able to track down the suspect, Rijo Antony, within 48 hours. At the beginning of the investigation, the police had received information that the suspect spoke to the bank employees in Hindi during the robbery.

After examining nearby CCTV footage, the police were able to confirm that the suspect was likely Malayali, based on his physical appearance. When Rijo arrived at the bank, only the peon was present. After showing the knife to the peon, Rijo threatened him in Hindi. He then locked the employees in the restroom, took money from the counter, and fled the spot.

The police stated that the suspect tried to mislead the investigation by making it appear as though the robbery was committed by someone from another state. Rijo's pot belly became a key clue in the investigation.

Additionally, Rijo's scooter and the shoes he was wearing helped the investigation team quickly trace the suspect. The fact that he only took 15 lakh rupees and did not attempt to take more money raised suspicions with the police, leading them to believe that he was familiar with the bank. The police also checked information on scooter owners in areas like Thrissur, Malappuram, Palakkad, and Ernakulam, including those with TVS NTorq scooters.

The suspect later told the police that he had only a limited amount of time to commit the robbery and had taken the 15 lakh rupees before leaving. He also stated that the knife he used to threaten the employees was bought while he was in the Gulf. A crucial breakthrough in the case came from a woman, Rijo's neighbour, who identified him after viewing the bank’s CCTV footage. Her observation confirmed the police's suspicions that the person in the footage was indeed Rijo.