WAYANAD: Three excise officers accused of taking bribes from the accused in a drug case at the Muthanga excise check post, have been suspended pending investigation. The action is based on the report of the district police chief and excise vigilance.

The excise commissioner suspended preventive officers P K Prabhakaran, K V Shajimon and civil excise officer K K Sudheesh of Muthanga excise check post.

The incident happened on May 3. Muneer, Mohammad and Shaheer, who were coming from Karnataka by car with ganja beedis, were caught by the police in Muthanga. They came crossing the excise check post at Muthanga. On interrogation by the police, the youths alleged that the excise officials took bribes and allowed them to go. The youths said they paid a bribe of Rs 8000. They had also bought a glass tube in which MDMA was used, from Bengaluru. The excise commissioner clarified that further action will be taken after receiving the final investigation report.