The court ruled that the vehicle seized by the Department of Motor Vehicles from the Travel Vloggers e-Buljet brothers should not be temporarily abandoned. The vehicle was impounded for violating the law. The Thalassery Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate yesterday issued an order not to release the vehicle. The court also ordered the removal of illegal fittings from the vehicle.
Illegal fittings should be taken to the same workshop and removed in the presence of the officers of the Department of Motor Vehicles and the vehicle should be brought back in a lawful manner and kept at the police station. Unauthorized fittings must be removed at the owner’s own expense. A bond equivalent to Rs 12 lakh should also be submitted. The court also prohibited the vehicle from being used and driven on the road without this purpose.
The registration of the vehicle is currently suspended for 6 months. It must follow the procedures now ordered by the court if it is not to be permanently revoked. The order was issued on a petition filed by Ebin Varghese, the owner of the Kilianthara Nechiyatt house, against the authorities of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The High Court had earlier dismissed the petition seeking release of the vehicle. However, the High Court ruled in favor of appealing to the appellate authorities and the Magistrates’ Court on the contentious issues.
The vehicle used by the e-Buljet brothers for their blogs was controversial. The Kannur RTO seized the Camper van on August 7, 2021. The e-chelan (check report) and show cause notice were issued stating that if there is a reason not to cancel the registration of the vehicle, it should be informed. The registration was canceled in September due to unsatisfactory explanation given. Ebin Varghese, the registered owner of the vehicle, has filed a petition in the High Court challenging the action of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The petitioner contended that the vehicle which was parked in the yard of the house should be released from the illegal seizure and the registration should not be canceled. However, the High Court said it was not intervening in the matter as the motor vehicle department had drawn up a long list of violations. These incidents had garnered great media attention. The e-Buljet brothers, who posted videos of the seizure of the vehicle, alleged that they were being unfairly tortured.