10 days on the run: Kerala police officer held in Wayanad tobacco theft case
Wayanad: A police officer who had been on the run for 10 days after allegedly stealing seven bags of seized banned tobacco products from Sultan Bathery police station was taken into custody in Ernakulam district on Sunday, officials said.
Senior Civil Police Officer Sabith, who is suspected of removing the seized products from the station, was intercepted near Kalamassery following a tip-off, police said.
Officer tracked down in Ernakulam
Sabith had been untraceable since the theft came to light on September 10 and was recently suspended from service. A special team was formed to locate him.
Although investigators traced his mobile phone to Ernakulam, they could not immediately find him as he kept changing locations, officials said.
Following a tip-off on Sunday, police intercepted and took him into custody near Kalamassery.
He is being taken to Sultan Bathery for interrogation and will be produced before a magistrate as part of the remand procedure.
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Seized tobacco products stolen
Police had seized seven bags of banned tobacco products from a person at Dhottappankulam near Sultan Bathery on June 7. The seized items were produced before a magistrate, who directed that they be kept at the police station.
During an inspection on September 10, officials found that the tobacco products were missing from the evidence room.
A theft case was subsequently registered and a DySP-rank officer was assigned to investigate.
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CCTV footage points to officer
During the investigation, police found that the lock of the evidence room was intact, suggesting that it had been opened using a key.
A detailed examination of CCTV footage from the station allegedly showed Sabith entering the room and removing the seized tobacco products, officials said.
(With PTI inputs)