Wayanad, 14 September (H.S.):A senior civil police officer has been booked for allegedly stealing seven sacks of banned tobacco products stored at the Sultan Bathery police station in Wayanad under a court order.

The accused has been identified as Sabith, a Vythiri native attached to the station. Police said he left the district after his alleged involvement emerged. Efforts are underway to trace him.

The tobacco products were seized during an inspection at Dottappankulam in Sultan Bathery on June 7. After being produced before a court, the materials were stored in the station's storeroom as directed.

The theft was discovered on September 10 when the station writer and assistant writer entered the storeroom for cleaning and found that seven sacks were missing.

The storeroom lock had not been broken, raising suspicion that it was opened with the original key. A preliminary inquiry indicated that the key kept in the assistant writer's desk might have been used to enter the room.

Investigators then examined CCTV footage from the police station. The visuals reportedly showed the sacks being removed from the premises and loaded into a car.

An inquiry led by the Sultan Bathery Deputy Superintendent of Police found evidence pointing to Sabith's involvement. Investigators relied on the CCTV footage and other evidence collected from the station.

Police suspect that the tobacco products were taken from the storeroom sometime between June 26 and September 10. A case has been registered against Sabith, and a search has been launched to locate him.

A wider investigation is also underway to establish whether anyone else was involved and to examine possible security lapses concerning seized articles kept in police custody under court orders. Officers are also checking records relating to access to the storeroom and the handling of the confiscated products during the period under investigation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman