Release of Abdul Rahim: 34 crores to be handed over immediately

KOZHIKODE: 34 crore rupees collected for the release of Abdul Rahim, a native of Kozhikode Farook, who is in Saudi jail, will be handed over to the Saudi family within two days. The Abdul Rahim Legal Aid Committee informed the family that the money had been collected.

Yousuf Kakkanchery, an official of the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, sought permission to meet the lawyer of the Saudi family. A letter will be sent to the court asking the Saudi family to agree to cancel the death sentence as the money has been raised. The court will cancel the death sentence after the lawyer informs the family's consent that they have pardoned Rahim by taking the blood money. Once the order is sent to the Supreme Court and confirmed, the first hurdle will be completed.

Then, a cheque for 15 million Saudi Riyals will be presented to the court. Jail release documents will also be moved. Release from jail will be possible once the process is completed by providing the documents required by the court. As the court is on festive leave, the proceedings will start only on Monday. The Indian Embassy had earlier contacted the Ministry of External Affairs to deliver the amount to Saudi Arabia as soon as possible. Rahim Sahaya Samiti is trying to speed things up with the local bank. The money will reach Saudi Arabia as soon as the foreign ministry approves it. The Legal Aid Committee trust will be maintained until Rahim's release. The committee has decided not to accept further funds.

Many people, including Bobby Chemmannur, who played a crucial role in fundraising, will come to meet Rahim's mother and family members. Kozhikode constituency UDF candidate M.K. Raghavan and Samasta President Syed Jifri Muthukoya Thangal had reached previously.