# Police officer booked for stealing seized tobacco at Kerala station 2026-09-14T07:34:16+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets A police officer is under investigation after seven bags of banned tobacco products seized in a case were stolen from Sultan Bathery police station in Wayanad. Senior Civil Police Officer Sabith is suspected of removing the seized goods and has been untraceable since the theft came to light on September 10, officials said. The tobacco was seized from a person at Dhottappankulam on June 7 and stored in the station's evidence room after a magistrate court directed it be kept there. CCTV footage allegedly shows Sabith entering the room and removing the sacks. The lock was intact, indicating the room was opened with a key. A police team visited Sabith's home on September 13 but he was not present. A DySP-rank officer is investigating. Police say it will be clear only after questioning Sabith whether the products were stolen to help the accused in the original case or to sell them on the black market. ## Indian Opinion Analysis All three outlets report the same facts from the police account: the theft was discovered on September 10, CCTV footage implicates SCPO Sabith, and he is absconding. The New Indian Express adds the detail that the theft came to light when station staff entered the storeroom for cleaning, a framing that subtly emphasises routine discovery over investigative proactiveness. The Hindu and Mathrubhumi lead with the official line that the officer is under investigation, leaving the motive, whether to help the accused or to sell the stolen goods, as an open question. The uniform police sourcing means the coverage is neutral-report across all three. The DySP's inquiry and efforts to trace Sabith are the concrete next steps to watch. ## Coverage - thehindu.com (neutral report) Leads with official probe, leaves motive open - newindianexpress.com (neutral report) Adds discovery detail: staff found theft during cleaning - english.mathrubhumi.com (neutral report) Same police sourced account, neutral framing Tags: Kerala Police, Sabith, Sultan Bathery Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/police-officer-booked-for-stealing-seized-tobacco-from-kerala-station/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/police-officer-booked-for-stealing-seized-tobacco-from-kerala-station/#story-in-brief