Idol, dignity restored to Suresh

KOZHIKODE: After seven years of legal battle, Kankkottuveettil Thayyil Suresh got back not only his panchaloha idol, also his dignity.

Chevayur police had seized the idol on January 9, 2000, painting Suresh as an illegal idol dealer. Suresh, a native of Chevayur, claimed that he got the idol of Goddess as an ancestral property and has been keeping it in his house for veneration. Suresh alleged conspiracy by a few policemen from Palakkad, who wanted to acquire the idol, behind the seizure.

Later, Suresh moved the Kerala High Court which directed the police to return the idol. The HC observed that police have no right to seize an idol which the petitioner has been using for worship. Armed with the court order, on Friday Suresh approached the Chevayur police and took back the idol.

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