Police investigate missing material evidence across 124 cases in Kochi court

Police in Kochi have started an investigation into the suspected theft of material evidence linked to 124 legal cases. The Ernakulam Central police filed the case following a complaint from a junior superintendent of the Judicial First Class Magistrate II Court. According to the First Information Report, the missing items were kept inside the evidence room located in the District Court complex.

Timeline and Charges

The FIR states that the suspected theft occurred over a wide time span, between January 1, 2016, and September 21, 2026. Authorities have registered the case under Section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. This specific legal provision addresses theft committed by a clerk or a servant involving property that belongs to or is held by their master.

Context

Court evidence rooms hold vital physical objects submitted during legal proceedings, such as weapons, documents, or stolen goods, which must be kept safe until cases reach a final judgment. Security breaches inside judicial complexes are rare and usually prompt strict internal checks alongside criminal investigations to find how access was gained over such a long period.