A police officer under investigation in Kerala after seizing tobacco stolen from a station

According to the police, on June 7, seven bags of banned tobacco products were seized from a person at Dhottappankulam near Sultan Bathery. Photo for representation purposes | Photo credit: The Hindu

A police officer is being investigated after seven bags of banned tobacco products seized in the case were stolen from Sultan Bathery police station, officials said on Monday (Sep 14, 2026).

“The investigation is against Senior Civilian Police Officer Sabith, who is suspected of stealing the seized products from the station and has been untraceable since the incident came to light,” officials said.

Also Read: 94 kg of banned tobacco products seized in Nagapattinam, two arrested

According to police, seven sachets of banned tobacco products were seized from a person at Dhottappankulam near Sultan Bathery on June 7.

The seized goods were produced before the magistrates’ court, which ordered that they be kept at the police station.

“They were subsequently stored in a room used for evidence storage,” officials said.

Officers searched the room on September 10 and discovered that the seized tobacco products had been stolen.

“A case of theft has been registered and a DySP officer has been assigned to investigate the incident,” police said.

During the investigation, officials discovered that the lock to the evidence room was intact, indicating that the room was accessible with a key.

Police later scrutinized CCTV footage from the station and found that Mr Sabith allegedly entered the room and removed the seized products, officials said.

A police team visited Sabith’s house on Sunday (September 13) but was not present.

Also Read: Shops selling banned tobacco products sealed in Tiruppur district

“Efforts to contact him also failed, raising suspicions that he had absconded,” police said.

“We are trying to trace him,” officials said.

Police said it would only be clear after questioning Mr Sabitha whether the products were stolen to help the accused in the original case or sold on the black market.

Published – 14 Sep 2026 12:31 IST