Kollam: Kerala Police have arrested a CPM leader for stealing a mobile phone from a police station. He has been identified as Kiran Kumar, a CPM local committee member in Thrikkadavoor east.

The 38-year-old accused came to the Anjalumoodu police station to bail out one of his comrades. Binu Bose was taken into custody on Tuesday for vandalising the wall posters of political parties.

According to sources, Kumar who came to police station found a police officer’s phone lying on the table while the officer was busy at work. Kumar took the phone and kept it in his pocket and soon handed it over to one of his friends, Ranjith who was waiting outside the police station.

Meanwhile, the police officer noticed that his phone was missing and checked the CCTV footage and identified the thief.

On Tuesday night, Kumar was arrested and taken to the police station. He confessed to the crime. The mobile phone was recovered from Ranjith's house, but he is absconding.

This incident has become an embarrassment to the LDF in the state during the time of Lok Sabha elections. The polls to 20 seats in Kerala will be held in a single phase on April 23. The counting of votes is on May 23.