‘Instant karma’: thief gets stuck in kitchen exhaust fan during burglary attempt in Kota; watch viral video

Officials said the man entered house to steal valuables but got stuck through exhaust shaft

A burglary attempt in Rajasthan’s Kota took an unexpected turn after one of the burglars became stuck in a kitchen exhaust fan while trying to break into a house. The incident unfolded at the house of Subhash Kumar Rawat, who was away on a trip to visit Khatu Shyam Temple in Sikar district on January 3.

When Rawat and his wife returned home around 1 am the following day and unlocked the main gate, they noticed something unusual inside the house. The kitchen area was illuminated by the headlights of a scooter parked outside, revealing a startling sight—a man wedged halfway through the kitchen’s exhaust fan opening, with his upper body inside the house and the rest hanging outside.

A video capturing the moment has surfaced online and is rapidly gaining traction on social media.

In Rajasthan’s Kota, a family returned from Khatu Shyam Ji darshan to find a thief stuck in the exhaust fan hole! They called police to pull him out. Accused Pawan drives a police officer’s car. 😳 pic.twitter.com/mwNcxjD2AF

— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) January 6, 2026

According to a report by News18, police from the Borkheda station rushed to the spot after being alerted by locals. Officials said the man had entered the house intending to steal valuables but got trapped while attempting to crawl through the exhaust fan shaft.

“On Sunday night, when the couple returned and opened the main gate they noticed through the scooter light that a person was half stuck in the kitchen exhaust fan. Alarmed, they raised an outcry,” a police officer was quoted as saying. Neighbours quickly gathered at the spot after hearing the commotion.

The police further said the trapped man was not alone. “Hearing the noise, one of the thieves managed to flee, but the other got stuck in the exhaust fan,” the officer said, adding that the burglar had tried to intimidate the residents by claiming his accomplices were nearby.

As per India Today, the tense situation lasted nearly an hour as residents waited for authorities to intervene. Eventually, the police managed to free the burglar and took him into custody.

“After considerable effort, the personnel rescued the thief from the exhaust fan. The accused was arrested and is currently being questioned,” the police officer said. The police also seized a car allegedly used by the man, which surprisingly had a “police” sticker pasted on it.

The bizarre episode has sparked a wave of reactions online. An X user joked, “His name is Pawan and he got stuck in an exhaust fan… irony just died a thousand deaths.” Another described the incident as “Instant karma,” while others wrote that the sticker on the vehicle may have been used to avoid suspicion.