Kerala Police applauded for swift arrest in Federal Bank heist case. Rijo Antony, a local resident of Chalakudy, was arrested in connection with the daring daylight heist at the Federal Bank branch in Pota, Thrissur. He had used part of the stolen money to pay off a friend’s debt of Rs 2.90 lakh, while the remaining amount was recovered from his house on Monday. He admitted to police that he had accumulated debts amounting to Rs 5 million and was growing anxious as his wife was set to return for good. Police are continuing their probe to determine whether he had any accomplices. One baffling aspect of the case remains — bank staff confirmed that Rs 45 lakh, stacked in nine bundles, was on the counter at the time, yet Antony took only three bundles, leaving behind the rest. He will soon be produced before a local court and is expected to be remanded. He is being held in a local jail.
