Wayanad tobacco theft: Police officer under probe after seized sacks go missing

Wayanad: A police officer is under investigation after seven bags of banned tobacco products seized in a case were stolen from the Sultan Bathery police station, officials said on Monday.

Senior Civil Police Officer Sabith is suspected of removing the seized products from the station and has been untraceable since the theft came to light, officials said.

Police said the seven bags were seized from a person at Dhottappankulam near Sultan Bathery on June 7. The seized goods were produced before a magistrate court, which directed that they be kept at the police station.

The products were subsequently stored in a room used to keep case evidence, officials said.

However, during an inspection of the room on September 10, officials found that the seized tobacco products were missing. A theft case was registered, and a DySP-rank officer was assigned to investigate.

During the probe, investigators found that the lock of the evidence room was intact, indicating that the room had been opened using a key.

Police then examined CCTV footage from the station and found that Sabith had allegedly entered the evidence room and removed the seized products, officials said.
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A police team visited Sabith's house on Sunday, but he was not there. Attempts to contact him also failed, leading police to suspect that he had gone absconding.

Efforts are underway to trace him, officials said.

Police said it would be known only after questioning Sabith whether the products were removed to help the accused in the original case or to sell them on the black market.

PTI