Qatar’s QAR 31 Million Heist: India’s Kerala BJP Leader Arrested

KOZHIKODE, Oct 23: A local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Kerala has been arrested after surrendering to police and allegedly admitting his role in a robbery at the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) office in Qatar last year, where 31 million Qatari riyals, equivalent to approximately Rs 8 crore, were reportedly stolen.

Parappil Balakrishnan, a welder who contested last year's local body elections as a BJP candidate in Koilandy municipality, surrendered at Koilandy police station in Kozhikode rural district on Wednesday. He was subsequently remanded in judicial custody by a local court.

According to police, the alleged robbery took place in September last year at the KMCC office in Al Tumama, Doha. The suspects allegedly broke open a money locker and fled with the cash before returning to Kerala.

A complaint was filed only on September 15 this year by Abdul Rahim P K, vice-president of the KMCC Qatar unit, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against multiple accused on charges of robbery and common intention.

Besides Balakrishnan, the FIR names five other accused: Rashi, Salih, Bombay Shaji, Kamarudheen and Hassan. Police said the other accused were absconding. Bombay Shaji has reportedly filed an anticipatory bail application, which police have opposed.

A police officer said the investigation was continuing and that the roles of the accused would become clearer after further questioning. The officer added that a case could be registered in Kerala because the suspects allegedly returned to the state after the robbery abroad.

In a video recorded before his arrest, Balakrishnan claimed he had travelled to Qatar believing he was being offered a job and was unaware of the alleged robbery plan.

He alleged that Shaji Bombay, also known as Shajahan, had promised him employment at the residence of an Arab national. After arriving in Doha, Shaji and another person allegedly took him to a lodge and restricted his movements.

Balakrishnan claimed he was later taken to the KMCC office, threatened and forced to break open the locker. According to his account, Shaji removed the money while a person identified as Kamuru gave instructions.

He further alleged that Shaji arranged his return ticket to Kerala and claimed that he feared for his life. These allegations have yet to be independently established.

The case took another turn after an audio clip, purportedly recording a conversation between two accused identified as Shaji and Kamaru, circulated on social media.

In the recording, a speaker allegedly demands his share of the money taken from Qatar and refers to Rs 25 crore, substantially higher than the approximately Rs 8 crore equivalent cited in the FIR.

The speaker also allegedly says he had worked with Balakrishnan to obtain the money and claims he did not know it belonged to the KMCC.

The authenticity of the recording and the discrepancy between the amounts have not been independently verified. Police have not established whether the sum mentioned in the audio reflects the actual amount stolen.

The alleged robbery reportedly involved funds kept at the KMCC office for its Sneha Suraksha welfare scheme, which supports expatriates from Kerala.

The theft caused controversy within the KMCC's Qatar unit, with members questioning the organisation's leadership over the handling of the incident, the amount stolen and the steps taken to identify those responsible.

The case has drawn renewed attention following Balakrishnan's surrender and the emergence of the purported audio recording. Police are continuing their investigation to establish the roles of the accused, determine the amount stolen and trace the suspects who remain at large.