After two years, Thankaraj of Kasaragod reclaims his excavator following HC order

Thrikaripur: Thankaraj, a native of Erode in Tamil Nadu, has regained possession of his excavator machine, which had been seized by the police while he was removing earth at a work site.

The Chandera police had confiscated the excavator, and the district collector imposed a fine of ₹44 lakhs, citing the removal of earth from the graveyard of the Kaalikkadavu Nusrathudheen Jamaat mosque two years ago as illegal. The excavator was released recently following a court verdict.

Thankaraj was left in dire straits after the police seized the excavator, which he had purchased through a loan from a financial institution to earn a livelihood. Burdened with a monthly EMI of ₹57,000, Thankaraj publicly threatened that he and his family would end their lives.

A breakthrough came during a conciliation meeting led by Padanna Panchayat President P V Muhammed Aslam, Kaithakkad Jamaat Vice President V K Rafeek Haji, Mukesh Balakrishnan, union representative Prakash Mundakandam and mosque committee office bearers. A decision was reached to pay up his loan dues and to pursue the legal interventions necessary for the excavator’s release.

The High Court ordered the release of the excavator last month. Following the district collector’s directive, an understanding was reached to release the excavator on the guarantee of the assets of the committee office bearers. However, Thankaraj will be fully absolved from the case only after the court disposes of it.

Panchayat President P V Muhammed Aslam handed over the key to the excavator at the mosque premises recently. Kaithakkad Jamaat Vice President V K Rafeeque Haji, Prakashan Mundakkandam, Kaalikkadavu Jamaat President T P Muthalib, U K Mushtaq, T P Abdul Jabbar, V.K Muhammadali Haji, V K Khalid, T P Hameed and V K Latheef were present. Thankaraj and his family reside at Kaithakkatt in Cheruvathur.