In a strange twist of fate, a motorbike stolen from Kochi in 2019 has resurfaced—not on the streets, but on the Idukki police station premises, where it has been lying unclaimed since the same year.
Back in August 2019, Subijith, a youth from Maniyarankudy near Vanchikavala, was arrested for allegedly trying to sell 8g of ganja to schoolchildren. Police seized his bike at the time, but no verification of its ownership was carried out. The vehicle sat idle for years, unnoticed and unclaimed—even after Subijith was sentenced to 10 days’ imprisonment in 2023 for the narcotics charge.
Things changed in 2024, when Idukki police began routine checks of unclaimed vehicles ahead of a disposal drive. A quick scan revealed the number plate was fake. Deeper checks using engine and chassis numbers showed the bike was registered in Ponnani, Malappuram—not Ernakulam, as the plate indicated.
Digging further, police confirmed the bike had been reported stolen from near the KSRTC bus station in Kochi in 2019. The original owner, now traced, confirmed the theft and has been asked to file a formal request to reclaim the vehicle.
Meanwhile, in an unexpected move, Ernakulam Central police have booked Subijith for theft—six years after the incident. Though he has been summoned for questioning, Subijith denies any link to the original theft.