Published Oct 22, 2026 | 11:47 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 22, 2026 | 11:47 AM
Balakrishnan surrenders before police. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Parappil Balakrishnan (60), a native of Nellyadi in Koyilandy, surrendered before the Koyilandy police on Wednesday, 21 October. He was subsequently produced before the Nadapuram court, which remanded him to judicial custody. He is currently lodged at the Koyilandy sub-jail.
A local BJP leader who contested the recent local body elections has been arrested in connection with the theft of 3.1 million Qatari Riyal, worth around ₹8.6 crore, from the Qatar office of the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC), an organisation representing Malayali expatriates and affiliated with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). KMCC claim to be the biggest expatriates organisation in the world.
Parappil Balakrishnan (60), a native of Nellyadi in Koyilandy, surrendered before the Koyilandy police on Wednesday, 21 October. He was subsequently produced before the Nadapuram court, which remanded him to judicial custody. He is currently lodged at the Koyilandy sub-jail.
Balakrishnan had contested as the BJP candidate from the third ward of Koyilandy municipality in the recent local body elections. He is also the BJP booth president at Viyyoor.
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An industrial worker by profession, he had travelled to Qatar last year.
The robbery took place in the early hours of September 18, 2025, at the KMCC office in Al Thumama, Qatar.
The assailants allegedly tied up the hands and feet of an employee, described as a room boy, held him captive and used a gas cutter to break open the locks of the strongroom.
They escaped with 3.1 million Qatari Riyal, equivalent to approximately ₹8.6 crore.
According to Balakrishnan’s statement, he was taken to Qatar under the pretext of employment and was unaware that he was being recruited for a robbery. He claimed that he was promised a job involving the repair of a malfunctioning strongroom at an office and was offered ₹10 lakh for the work.
A welder by profession, Balakrishnan said he realised the group’s intentions only after reaching the location.
He claimed that he attempted to intervene but was forced to open the strongroom after the other accused threatened to kill him.
Police are examining his version as part of the investigation.
“They told me to be ready to leave and said they would call once the visa and tickets were arranged. They also instructed me to reach Kannur airport at night. I was taken there under the pretext of work. I travelled to Qatar with Rashi and Sai Baba. Shaji also arrived there, and we stayed at a hotel. I had no knowledge of the robbery,” Balakrishnan reportedly told investigators.
He claimed that he received only ₹50,000 for his involvement.
The group allegedly fled Qatar after the robbery, and Balakrishnan returned to Keralam.
He reportedly experienced severe mental distress following his return, and also attempted to join the Muslim League, but the move did not materialise.
He subsequently joined the BJP and contested the local body election from the third ward of Koyilandy municipality.
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Six people have been named as accused in the case.
Apart from Balakrishnan, the suspects are Shaji, alias Bombay Shaji; Rashi; Salih, alias Bava; Hassan, alias Mammali; and Nisar.
Police are searching for the remaining five.
Investigators suspect that four people were brought from Keralam to Qatar specifically to carry out the robbery.
Two other individuals are alleged to have assisted the group during its stay in Qatar.
The precise roles of the accused and the circumstances under which the robbery was planned are being investigated.
Balakrishnan’s surrender followed mounting criticism over the failure to report the theft to the police for nearly a year.
The delay in filing a complaint raised questions about the handling of the incident by the KMCC leadership.
Some members of the Qatar KMCC also publicly alleged that the IUML leadership was attempting to conceal the robbery.
The controversy intensified before KMCC vice-president P.K. Abdul Raheem approached the Koyilandy police with a formal complaint.
The police registered a case on September 15, 2026, based on the complaint, nearly a year after the theft.
The investigation subsequently led to Balakrishnan’s surrender and arrest.
The police are continuing efforts to trace the other accused and establish the sequence of events, including how the group gained access to the KMCC office, how the strongroom was opened and what happened to the stolen money.
Balakrishnan’s claims that he was deceived into participating in the robbery remain subject to investigation.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
