Two policemen arrested for selling confiscated illegal tobacco product

KOTTAKKAL: Two policemen were arrested for selling illegal tobacco products confiscated by the police. Those arrested have been identified as ASI Rajindran and SCPO Saji Alexander. Both have been suspended from service. On April 21, 32 sacks of the banned tobacco product were confiscated by the police from a minivan during a vehicle inspection conducted as part of Covid restrictions. The culprits, who intended to take the tobacco product to various parts of Malappuram, were arrested. The court then ordered to release the seized minivan and directed the police to destroy the confiscated tobacco products. Following this, the two policemen decided to sell the tobacco product instead of destroying them. For this, the two contacted a mediator over the phone. The accused in the tobacco smuggling case came to know about this and informed the district police chief. The policemen committed the fraud by filling 23 sacks with expired Hans and the rest with plastic covers. The fraud came to light in the investigation conducted by Narcotics DySP Mohanachandran The accused were produced in the Malappuram Munsiff Court yesterday.