ABDUL Rahim, who was facing a death sentence in Saudi Arabia and was released after paying blood money of Rs 34 crore, raised via crowdfunding, returned to his home state Keralam on Thursday after two decades of imprisonment in the Gulf nation.

 

After landing at the Karipur airport here, he was escorted outside by his relatives as Rahim shed tears of happiness on being able to finally return to his homeland. He was hugged by businessman Bobby Chemmanur, who was present at the airport to welcome him, and Rahim waved to the people and media who had gathered there and showed them the ‘thumbs-up’ sign. “I am thankful to everyone who helped me,” he told reporters here before boarding a car to go home to his mother who had been waiting for his return for nearly two decades from Saudi Arabia where he had gone for a job in 2006.