Thodupuzha: A senior civil police officer was suspended after being accused of stealing a bicycle that had been kept as case evidence at the DySP office compound. The officer, K Jayamon, was on deputation from Kanjiyar police station when the incident occurred.

The bicycle, seized in a previous theft case, was awaiting return to its owner. But when the owner visited the station to photograph it for court submission, it had mysteriously disappeared. A check of CCTV footage reportedly revealed Jayamon loading the cycle into an autorickshaw and leaving the premises.

Despite the clear evidence, no formal FIR was filed as police claimed no official complaint had been lodged. The incident quickly spiralled into a public scandal, with Youth Congress activists staging protests, demanding accountability. In response, District Police Chief T K Vishnu Pradeep suspended Jayamon on Tuesday evening.

In a twist, the missing bicycle reappeared at the station compound nearly a week after the CCTV clip began circulating. Locals now allege a cover-up, accusing senior officers of trying to hush up the incident. Many are calling for a proper theft case to be registered against Jayamon to ensure transparency and justice.