Published Sep 14, 2026 | 5:11 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 14, 2026 | 5:17 PM
Senior Civil Police Officer Sabith.
A Senior Civil Police Officer (SCPO) attached to the Sultan Bathery police station in Wayanad has been suspended after an investigation identified him as the accused in the theft of seven sacks of banned tobacco products kept at the station under a court order.
SCPO Sabith, a native of Vythiri, was suspended by the District Police Chief based on a report submitted by the DySP.
Police said he is currently absconding and efforts are underway to trace him.
The stolen consignment comprised seven sacks containing ‘Hans’, which had been seized by the police in a contraband case and later returned to the station for safe custody as directed by the Bathery Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I.
The theft came to light recently when the room where the seized articles were stored was opened for cleaning under the supervision of the station writer.
A subsequent examination of CCTV footage from the station and nearby areas helped investigators establish that the sacks had been removed during the night.
The tobacco products were seized on June 7 from the residence of Ishaq, a resident of Pallikkandi, at Dottappankulam in Beenachi.
The seizure included 12,000 packets of ‘Hans’ and 1,800 packets of ‘Cool Lip’, which were kept in seven sacks hidden in a compartment behind a cupboard.
Another sack of tobacco products was recovered from a car parked outside the house.
The seized articles were produced before the court, which later entrusted them back to the police for safe custody. They were brought back to the station on June 26 and placed in the store room.
Investigators are now examining whether Sabith acted alone or received assistance from others in removing the contraband from the station.
Bathery DySP MM Abdul Kareem said the investigation was progressing on the right track.
The investigation team has a clear understanding of the circumstances and is taking steps to identify and bring all those involved to justice, he said.
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(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar.)
