ATM money theft in Koyilandy was staged: Police reveal victim was perpetrator in planned robbery

Koyilandy: In a dramatic turn of events, police in Kozhikode have revealed that the man who was initially reported as the victim in a shocking ATM robbery was, in fact, the mastermind behind the scam, orchestrating the plot with his accomplices. The accused, Suhail, is said to have staged the incident, which involved him being tied up, pepper-sprayed, and robbed of a substantial sum of money.

The case came to light when Suhail, a 25-year-old employee of India One ATM, lodged a complaint stating that he had been attacked by two unidentified men near Kattil Peedika in the Arikkulam-Kurudimukku area on Saturday afternoon. According to his complaint, these men had ambushed him during his routine ATM cash replenishment job, tied him up in a car, and assaulted him with chilli powder, before making off with the cash.

Initially, Suhail had claimed that the two men had stolen Rs 25 lakhs from him. However, further investigation by the police revealed a different story, indicating that Suhail had not been a victim but was actively involved in a premeditated scam. Police uncovered a total of Rs 37 lakhs from one of Suhail's accomplices, Taha, which raised suspicions about the authenticity of his account. 

A special team led by Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) P. Nidhin Raj was swiftly formed to investigate the case, and following a detailed inquiry, Suhail's role in the scam became clear. It was found that Suhail, along with Taha and another accomplice, had conspired to stage the robbery. The ATM replenishment job, which should have been a routine task, was used as a cover for the fraudulent scheme.

On the day of the alleged "robbery", Suhail, along with Taha and another individual, had been transporting Rs 72.40 lakh in a car to the ATM. According to Suhail's own statement, they had driven from Koyilandy to Arikkulam in a car bearing registration number KL 56 DW 3723. It was during this trip, near the Arikkulam Panchayat office, that the duo had ambushed him. One of the attackers had fallen off the car's bonnet, prompting Suhail to stop. At that point, the second accomplice had entered the car and physically restrained Suhail, covering his mouth and nose, while the third man had tied him up, covered his body with chilli powder, and rendered him unconscious. The attackers then made off with the money from the car's front seat and abandoned Suhail in Kattil Peedika, leaving him tied up and disoriented.

Locals found Suhail around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, near Mujahid Palli in Kattil Peedika. His body and the inside of the car were smeared with chilli powder, and his hands and feet were bound. Local residents were quick to release him, and he was then taken to the police.

Upon further interrogation, Suhail confessed that he had staged the robbery, and that it was part of a planned scheme to steal the money. He revealed that he had been working with Taha and others to orchestrate the theft. Suhail had initially stated that he was alone when carrying out the ATM job that day, but this claim was later contradicted by police findings.

Suhail’s arrest, which was recorded by the Koyilandy Police, followed the recovery of the stolen cash and the unravelling of the complex scam. Authorities have since taken another individual, who had helped in the assault and confinement of Suhail, into custody. The investigation is ongoing, with the police continuing to pursue leads to recover the remaining stolen funds.