• Thief trapped in kitchen fan during attempted break-in
• Police arrest suspect, search continues for accomplice

The Indian city of Kota witnessed a bizarre incident in the early hours of January 4, 2026, when a man became stuck inside a kitchen exhaust fan while attempting to break into a house, local police reported.

The episode, captured on video and widely shared on social media, ended with the suspect’s arrest, while authorities continue searching for his accomplice.

Homeowner Subhash Kumar Rawat and his wife had left their Pratap Nagar residence the day before to visit the Khatu Shyam Temple, leaving the house unattended.

Around 1:00 a.m., as his wife returned and unlocked the main gate, she noticed an unusual sight at the back: a man stuck halfway through the kitchen fan, his legs outside and torso inside. She screamed to alert neighbors.

According to a local newspaper report, neighbors rushed to the scene and alerted the police, who arrived within minutes.

Officers, together with local residents, spent nearly an hour carefully freeing the man from the narrow fan opening.

One of his alleged accomplices fled amid the commotion, leaving him trapped.

Once freed, the man was taken into custody.

A police source told reporters that the suspect, identified as Pawan Vaishnav, is being questioned regarding other burglary cases linked to him.

The vehicle used in the attempted break-in, which bore a police sticker, was also seized, raising further questions in the ongoing investigation.

Authorities are still searching for the accomplice who escaped.