{
  "id": 8659708,
  "title": "Police officer on the run for ‘stealing’ seized tobacco products nabbed from Ernakulam",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/police-officer-on-the-run-for-stealing-seized-tobacco-products-nabbed",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T09:29:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/police-officer-on-the-run-for-stealing-seized-tobacco-products-nabbed-from-ernakulam/article71487427.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A special police team has apprehended a Wayanad district officer, Sabith, who has been on the run for ten days following allegations of stealing seven bags of seized tobacco products from Ernakulam’s Sulthan Bathery Police Station. The officer was apprehended in Kalamassery, Ernakulam district, on Sunday morning, September 20, 2026, after a ten-day elapse since the theft was reported on September 10. Prior to his capture, Sabith had managed to evade authorities despite the team locating his mobile phone in Ernakulam district. He was moved from place to place, making his escape difficult. The seven bags of prohibited tobacco were seized from a person in Dhottappankulam, near Sultan Bathery, on June 7 and were stored at the police station following instructions from a magistrate court. The items went missing when officials inspected the room on September 10, leading to a theft case being filed. Investigation revealed the lock on the evidence room was intact, suggesting the use of a key. CCTV footage confirmed Sabith's entry into the room and removal of the products. Sabith was subsequently suspended from duty. He will be taken to Sultan Bathery for interrogation before being handed over to a magistrate as per the remand procedure.",
  "summary": "Seven bags of seized banned tobacco products were reported stolen from the Sulthan Bathery Police Station in Wayanad",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}