In a bizarre incident reported from Telangana’s Karimnagar district, a constable and a driver, who works for the police station, were arrested for allegedly stealing as many 69 whiskey bottles from Two Town Police Station.

The stolen bottles were seized by the police from liquor store owners, who opened their shops during the lockdown despite restrictions.

The two accused have been sent to judicial custody.

On May 4, senior police officials noticed that liquor bottles, seized during the lockdown, had mysteriously gone missing from the police station.

An enquiry was initiated by the police brass without revealing that the theft had been noticed and within four hours it was found that constable Arun and a driver had allegedly stolen the missing liquor bottles.

During the investigation, the officers scanned the footage from CCTV cameras installed at the police station and zeroed in on Arun after noticing his suspicious movement.

The investigating officials also interrogated the police driver, identified as Rana. They confronted him with evidence and he disclosed that the theft was committed by Arun and him.

According to a report of the Times of India, the accused constable would also face departmental action.

Reportedly, the duo had supplied the stolen liquor bottles to their acquaintances during the lockdown as they were unable to procure them stores due to restrictions.

While they had smuggled out most of the seized liquor bottles, some were still left at the police station.

The case was cracked on May 4 but came into the public domain only on Wednesday as the Karimnagar Police did not want to ruin their reputation.

TOI learnt that the two accused were arrested and were booked under relevant provisions of the law.