Six states and 19 cases: How the Kochi Police apprehended Bihar’s “Robin Hood”

After traveling from Bihar to Kochi and breaking through a kitchen window with a screwdriver, the man known as the “Robin Hood” of Bihar was on the verge of making a swift escape and walking away with a sizable reward until Kochi Police acted quickly and caught him only 15 hours after the crime.

On Monday, Muhammad Irfan, also known as Bihar “Robin Hood,” a 35-year-old Bihar resident, was brought to Kochi. He is the son of Muhammad Akthar of Sitamarhi, Bihar, who was detained for breaking into the Panampilly Nagar home of film director Joshiy’s son, Abhilash Joshiy.

After questioning him, some intriguing information about the notorious burglar—who is the subject of 19 high-profile theft cases across six states—was revealed.

It is said that back home in Bihar, his public offerings from his reward have earned him the nickname “Robin Hood.”

“After arriving in Kochi, the thief searched Google for upscale neighborhoods and eventually found Panampilly Nagar. Before forcing open the director’s home’s kitchen window, he had made fruitless attempts to break into three other homes. According to the authorities, the gold was not secured in the locker.

It’s interesting that the accused made use of the fact that his wife is a member of the Sitamarhi district panchayat council. According to authorities, he was somewhat able to avoid police inspections since the automobile he was driving had the district panchayat board on it.

The arrest of the culprit within 15 hours after the crime was a great moment for Kochi police, according to City Police Commissioner Shyamsundar. The residence included treasures and gold items valued at much to 1.20 crores.

Irfan is also charged in a complaint that the museum police filed in 2021 after a well-known jewelry chain owner’s home was broken into and valuables worth Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 60,000 in cash were taken.

When Goa police captured him, efforts were made, according to Museum police, to bring him into prison; but, because of the epidemic, this did not work out. A museum police officer said, “We would soon record his arrest and take him into custody after getting permission from the court in Kochi.”

Inspectors Richard Varghese and Premananda Krishnan were part of the Kochi police squad that conducted the arrest, working under the command of DCP K S Sudarshan and ACP P Rajkumar. Aside from Pramod and Vipin of the cyber wing, the squad also included ASIs Jossy, Anil, Saneep, and Prashant, as well as sub-inspectors Anil, Vishnu, and Ravi.

The commissioner said that communication with Karnataka police’s Raman Gupta, IPS, assisted in the accused’s arrest.