Kozhikode: The complainants in the excess land case against former CPM leader and ex-MLA George M. Thomas gheraoed the land board officials who allegedly tried to leave the respective site leave without evidence collection. 

The case pertains to land owned by George M. Thomas and his brothers in Thottumukkam, which comes under Kodiyathur Village.  Land Board in 2000 had identified that George and others possessed 16 acres and 40 cents of excess land and decided to seize it. Thomas approached the Kerala High Court against the decision. In 2003, the court directed the land board to seize the property. 

Meanwhile, in 2001, the one-acre cashew plantation included in the excess land was transferred to a person named Augustine. Thomas had also submitted an application to the government claiming that the land was not in his possession or his family members and requested his name to be excluded from the list. 

However, Augustine transferred land ownership to Thomas's wife in 2022. The complainants filed a fresh complaint to the Land Board Commissioner. The complaint was that Thomas was misleading the Land Board and was trying to acquire government land. It was also alleged that Thomas is building a new house on the land involved in the case.

The board directed officials to visit the site and collect evidence from the complainants. The new development comes at this juncture. The officials allegedly attempted to leave without collecting the evidence, which prompted complainants to protest and impede their movement. Following this, officials collected evidence and left the site.