KANJIRAPPILLY: The case in connection with a policeman stealing mangoes from a wholesale shop has been settled. The court accepted the application to settle the case. Further proceedings in the case have also been terminated.

The complainant, the shopkeeper, filed a petition in the Kanjirapalli Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, demanding that the accused has compensated the loss he suffered through the theft, and therefore he should be allowed to settle without court proceedings. A court report was also sought from the police in this regard. It is serious that the accused who committed the theft is a policeman. According to the police report, if the case is settled, it will send a wrong message to the society. But the court ruled in favour of the accused, rejecting the arguments of the police.

The police registered a case against PV Shihab, a CPO at Idukki AR camp, in the mango theft case. He stole mangoes from a shop in Kanjirapally town on the morning of September 30 while he was leaving after duty.

The visuals of mangoes being taken on a scooter were caught on CCTV. Initially, the police tried to settle the case, but after the footage went viral on social media, a theft case was registered and the accused was suspended. Following this, Shihab went into hiding. The police investigated but could not find the suspect. There has been widespread criticism of the police for not arresting the accused.