Thillankeri jeep ride: Kerala MVD to demolish vehicle with multiple illegal modifications

Panamaram: The Kerala Motor Vehicle Department (MVD), while examining the jeep driven by ousted CPM member and prime accused in the murder of Youth Congress worker Shuhaib, Akash Thillankeri, found multiple violations.

According to the Registration Certificate, the vehicle is a 2002 model Mahindra jeep. Originally used by the Army, it was auctioned in 2017 and registered in Punjab. Later, it was re-registered in Malappuram in 2018. The vehicle's engine, braking system, gearbox, and tyres were found to be replaced and modified from the original.

Currently, the vehicle is owned by Sulaiman, a native of Morayur. It is also learnt that the vehicle had been bought by another Kannadimukk (Panamaram) native, but the registration is still pending. Meanwhile, Mathur native Shijal, the person seen with Thillankeri in the jeep ride video, produced the vehicle before the police after the controversy of the jeep ride video erupted. The police informed the MVD, who instructed them to take the vehicle into custody. Later, the vehicle was handed over to the MVD, and the violations were found during the examination.

The vehicle was produced after removing four wheels used for modification. However, they were recovered from Shijal's relative's house, concealed under a sack.

The MVD plans to demolish the vehicle, and the Enforcement RTO has already issued the order to the Malappuram RTO.

Meanwhile, the police have not yet ascertained the identity of the person seen in the video in the backseat of the vehicle. However, they suspect the person to be a friend of Thillankeri. The police are also examining how individuals involved in the jeep ride are linked to the Kannadimukk native. 

The controversy began when Akash Thillankeri posted an Instagram reel of his journey through Panamaram, accompanied by background music and film dialogues. In the video, he was seen driving the modified jeep without a number plate through Panamaram town, Nellarattu junction, and Aryannur nada. It was clear from the visuals that the vehicle had been modified in violation of regulations. The footage was recorded by his friends traveling in another vehicle