Kerala BJP leader surrenders in Qatar cash heist investigation

Parappil Balakrishnan, a 60-year-old BJP leader and welder from Koyilandy, surrendered to police in Kozhikode on October 21 in connection with a major robbery in Doha. The theft, which occurred on September 18, 2025, involved the loss of 31 lakh Qatari riyals (approximately Rs 8.08 crore) from the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) office.

Balakrishnan, who contested local body elections as a BJP candidate last year, claimed in a video that he was coerced into participating. He alleged that a man known as Bombay Shaji offered him a welding job in Qatar but later threatened him into using a gas cutter to break open the KMCC strong room. Balakrishnan stated he received only a small fraction of the promised payment.

Police investigations indicate that four men were flown from Kerala to Qatar to execute the robbery, while two others allegedly assisted with planning and accommodation. The gang reportedly tied up a staff member during the heist. While an unverified audio clip circulating on social media mentions a sum of Rs 25 crore, the official police case focuses on the Rs 8.08 crore stolen. Balakrishnan has been remanded to judicial custody.