Kerala Police Dismiss Cop For Stealing Mangoes

Idukki Superintendent of Police ordered his suspension allegedly for causing embarrassment to the force.

When the shop owner came out of the shop, he was shocked to find out that the mangoes were missing (File Photo)

Kerala police dismissed PV Shihab, the civil police officer of AR Camp, for causing embarrassment to the force by stealing mangoes from a fruit shop at Kanjirappally last September. The Idukki district police chief gave the order even after the complainant withdrew the case. 

According to Times of India, Shihab who was suspended from service for a month was given dismissal order on Wednesday. Idukki district police gave the order by stating that the act of the cop defamed the police.

Last year, Shihab was caught red-handed with the help of CCTV footage while stealing mangoes from a shop in Kanjirapally of Kottayam district. In the video, the cop was seen carrying mango boxes priced over Rs 500 per kg and keeping them on his two-wheeler.

When the shop owner came out of the shop, he was shocked to find out that the mangoes were missing. He then combed the CCTV footage to find out that a policeman had taken the fruit. 

The shop owner then gave a complaint to the police. In return, the police started the search.

Upon knowing this, Shihab went on a run for a while. 

Soon a case against him was registered by the local police and a probe was established. Recently, the Idukki Superintendent of Police ordered his suspension.

However, for Shihab, the situation worsened as numerous reports of various police officials indulging in crimes surfaced, leaving the state police red-faced. The state government spoke tough, saying that the wrongdoers will not be allowed to go scot-free and subsequently, Shihab was dismissed from service, said a report on IANS.

Shihab was first acquitted by the court on October 20 after the shop owner submitted a petition to withdraw the case.