Stephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod

Kasargod, Oct 28: A case has been registered against a civil police officer (CPO) attached to the Chandera police station for allegedly stealing and selling a lost mobile phone that was safely handed over to the station by a good samaritan.

The accused officer has been identified as Baiju.

According to the details, on October 8, a migrant worker found a Redmi mobile phone worth around Rs 10,000 on the road near the Chandera police station. He promptly handed it over to the authorities. The police recorded the receipt of the device in the station's register and kept it in a desk drawer.

Chandera police station (file photo)

Following an inquiry, the police successfully traced the phone's rightful owner, a woman residing in Ramanthali, Payyanur. However, when her son arrived at the station to collect the device, the officers discovered that the mobile phone had mysteriously gone missing from the drawer.

The police subsequently launched an investigation and tracked the device's IMEI number with the assistance of the cyber cell. The probe revealed that a resident of Neerchal in Badiadka was actively using the mobile with a new SIM card. During questioning, the individual reportedly disclosed that he had purchased the phone directly from police officer Baiju of the Chandera station.

Upon reviewing the police station's CCTV footage, investigators found clear visuals from October 12 showing Baiju, who was on duty at the time, taking the mobile phone out of the desk drawer and removing its old SIM card.

A case has been registered against the accused officer, and a detailed report has been submitted to the district superintendent of police for further disciplinary action.