Malappuram, 27 June (H.S.):
Gold jewellery worth an estimated ₹10 lakh has gone missing from the custody of the Karipur Police Station in Kerala's Malappuram district, triggering an internal police investigation into what is being viewed as a serious security lapse.
The missing ornaments had been deposited with the station over several years after being recovered from various locations, including Karipur International Airport, or handed over by members of the public after being found unattended. The jewellery, received both before and after 2018, was being kept in police custody pending further legal procedures.
The disappearance came to light following an inspection, and the matter has been officially confirmed in a report submitted by the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Kondotty, to the Malappuram District Police Chief. The report states that the ornaments are no longer traceable from the police station's property room.
The issue had first surfaced in February 2026 when the police intelligence wing reportedly flagged discrepancies in the station's records and indicated that a quantity of gold kept in custody had gone missing. Subsequent verification is understood to have confirmed the loss.
Police sources said the disappearance of valuables from official custody is being treated as a grave breach of security and departmental procedure. Preliminary information suggests that a former senior officer who had served at the station may be linked to the missing jewellery.
The revelation that a police officer could have been involved in the alleged misappropriation has prompted a detailed departmental inquiry. Investigators are examining station records, property registers and custody procedures to establish when the ornaments disappeared and identify those responsible.
Further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation. Police officials have not yet disclosed whether a criminal case has been formally registered in connection with the missing gold.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
