Panamaram jeep ride: MVD says Akash does not have a driving license

Kannur: There are indications that Akash Thillankeri, ousted CPM member and the prime accused in the murder of youth congress worker Shuhaib, who had courted controversy on the other day by riding a modified jeep without a number plate and without wearing a seat belt, has no driving license at all. In the preliminary investigation conducted by the Motor Vehicles Department, it has been revealed that he has not taken a driving license from Kannur.

As Akash Thillankeri’s jeep ride at Panamaram in Wayanad district flouting traffic rules had turned into a controversy,  the Wayanad Enforcement RTO recommended the cancellation of Akash's driving license to Kannur RTO. It is in the investigation conducted following this recommendation that the department has come to know that Akash Thillankeri has not taken a driving license from Kannur, his home district. “We have recommended a detailed investigation at the state level to check whether Akash has taken a license from any other district”, said KR Suresh, Enforcement RTO. 

It is said that, even during the investigation conducted at the state level, the department could not find the name of Akash Thillankeri among the license holders. The MVD had included the section on driving without a license while slapping charges in connection with the controversial jeep ride at Panamaram. MVD had asked Sulaiman of Morayur, Malappuram, who is the owner of the vehicle, to pay a fine of Rs. 45,500/- for flouting traffic rules. They also had issued a notice before the cancellation of registration to the owner of the vehicle. 

Earlier, the Kerala High Court had come out criticising the controversial jeep ride ordering MVD to seize the vehicle immediately.  

Meanwhile, during the investigation, it was revealed that the vehicle was caught in traffic violations earlier. An e-chalan was sent to the owner of the vehicle in October 2023 regarding a traffic violation in Wayanad district. 

The jeep ride caught the headlines following the sharing of the reel of the ride by Akash through Instagram. It was Akash’s friends, who were traveling in another vehicle, had shot the ride from another vehicle.