Kozhikode: In a major turning point in the investigation into the ₹40 lakh robbery at ESAF Bank in Ramanattukkara, police recovered ₹39 lakh from an abandoned plot in Pantheerankavu on Tuesday. According to Manorama News, the money was found buried in a plot located near the house of the prime accused, Shibin Lal.

On June 11, around 1 pm, Shibin Lal visited the private bank, tricked an employee named Aravindan, and vanished with a bag containing ₹40 lakh. The accused had reportedly collected the money from Aravindan after convincing him that he would clear his gold loan at a private finance firm, and repledge it at ESAF.

Although police arrested Shibin Lal on June 13, only ₹55,000 was initially recovered from him. Further investigation led police to search the abandoned plot. After examining CCTV footage, they confirmed that the accused had not left Pantheerankavu after committing the crime. Following this, Shibin disclosed the secret location where he had hidden the money.

The accused revealed about hiding the money when Pantheerankavu SI Prasanth and CI Shaju took him into custody for a third round of interrogation. Talking to the media, a senior police official said that Shibin had approached the private firm to settle the gold loan and offered ₹35 lakh. He added that this information turned crucial in the probe.

In addition to Shibin Lal, police also booked his wife Krishna Lekha and relative Dinaranju for allegedly assisting him in the robbery. The accused had fabricated fake receipts from various finance firms to deceive ESAF employees.