Shornur Railway Police arrested Malayalam film director Kaja Hussain on Sunday for stealing phones and laptops from train passengers. Police said Hussain suffered huge losses after his 2024 film Kallanmarude Veedu failed commercially. He used his travel time to target distracted passengers and sold the stolen goods to local shops.
Police said Kaja Hussain suffered huge losses after his 2024 Malayalam film Kallanmarude Veedu failed commercially; investigators have linked him to multiple theft cases.
A Malayalam film director-producer whose 2024 movie failed commercially has been arrested for allegedly stealing mobile phones and laptops from train passengers, with police linking him to multiple theft cases in Kerala.
Kaja Hussain, 46, a native of Karimba in Kerala’s Palakkad district, was arrested by Shornur Railway Police following an investigation into the theft of a mobile phone worth Rs 80,000 from a woman travelling on the Mangaluru Central Intercity Superfast Express, police said on Sunday.
Hussain directed and produced Kallanmarude Veedu, which was released in 2024. Police said he incurred substantial losses after the film failed commercially and subsequently turned to theft to earn money.
The case was registered under Section 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with theft in a dwelling house, means of transportation or place of worship. Investigators used CCTV footage from railway stations and trains to identify the accused, according to Malayalam media reports.
How the alleged thefts were carried out
Malayalam news outlets Reporter Live and Siraj Live reported that Hussain allegedly exploited moments when passengers were distracted to steal mobile phones and laptops while travelling on trains. He reportedly travelled frequently by train for work and used the opportunity to observe passengers before carrying out the thefts.
According to Siraj Live, Hussain allegedly sold the stolen devices to shops by presenting himself as a second-hand goods dealer. The report also said he had altered his appearance to avoid detection, including shaving his beard.
Police have recovered around five laptops and a mobile phone believed to be stolen property, Reporter Live and Siraj Live reported. The outlets said the recoveries were linked to three cases registered by Shornur Railway Police and thefts reported in the Kozhikode area.
The investigation has also linked Hussain to earlier thefts involving laptops on trains in the Kozhikode region. While PTI reported that he was accused of stealing two laptops there, Manorama News reported that he was linked to four stolen laptops in the area.
Earlier case involving alleged financial fraud
Hussain had also faced a separate case involving allegations of financial fraud linked to film production.
In July 2024, Malayala Manorama reported that Hussain had been arrested after a meat trader from Palakkad district accused him of taking Rs 67.5 lakh on the promise of giving him a prominent role in a film and involving him in its production in return for a share of the profits.
According to the report, the complainant approached the police after Hussain repeatedly postponed repayment. His anticipatory bail plea was rejected before the arrest.
The earlier case concerned alleged cheating in connection with film production and is separate from the railway theft cases in which Hussain has now been arrested.