Railway police probing a series of electronic gadget thefts aboard passenger trains in Kerala took Malayalam film director and producer Kaza Hussain into custody on Sunday at Palakkad railway station. Investigators from the Shoranur railway police station tracked down and apprehended Hussain following specific complaints regarding stolen high-end smartphones and laptops from train coaches. The police action followed an investigation launched immediately after a female traveler reported the theft of her expensive mobile handset.
Theft of Passenger's Phone Led Police to the Filmmaker
An officer attached to the Shoranur railway police station stated that Hussain was intercepted following a recent complaint lodged by a train commuter. According to the police, two days earlier, an 80,000-rupee mobile phone was stolen from a woman traveling aboard the Mangaluru Central Intercity SF Express. Once the passenger registered her complaint, railway authorities began tracking the missing device and reviewing passenger movement, ultimately leading their investigation directly to Hussain at Palakkad railway station.
Box Office Losses Triggered Financial Ruin and Thefts
Following the incident, the railway police registered a formal case under Section 305 of the BNS, which deals with theft inside a dwelling, place of worship, or transport conveyance. Hussain directed and produced the 2024 Malayalam feature film Kallanmarude Veedu. According to police findings, the movie was a commercial failure that resulted in severe financial distress for him. Struggling under substantial business losses, he allegedly turned to stealing electronic valuables from unsuspecting rail passengers in an attempt to recover his financial footing.
Multiple Thefts Uncovered in Shoranur and Kozhikode
Initial interrogation revealed that the alleged thefts were not confined to a single journey. In the Shoranur jurisdiction, Hussain was found to be involved in the theft of two laptops alongside the 80,000-rupee smartphone. Furthermore, authorities noted that he faces allegations of stealing another two laptops in Kozhikode. The arrest has sent shockwaves through the regional entertainment industry. Following the poor theatrical run of Kallanmarude Veedu, Hussain had previously blamed actor Bijukuttan for failing to attend the film's promotional events, stating that the actor's presence would have influenced audience turnout and drawn his fans to the theaters.
