Kozhikode: A Kerala man who spent nearly two decades in a Saudi Arabian prison and was once facing the death penalty has finally returned to India after receiving a pardon from Saudi authorities. arrived back home on Thursday after years of legal battles, diplomatic efforts and public support campaigns. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed his departure through an official statement, calling it the end of a long and difficult chapter for Raheem and his family. He had been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia since 2006 in connection with the death of a Saudi minor while working as a caretaker and driver in the Gulf country.

According to reports, Raheem had moved to Saudi Arabia in search of better employment opportunities and was hired to care for a physically challenged teenage boy who relied on an external breathing device. Raheem claimed that during an incident inside the vehicle, the boy allegedly misbehaved with him and while trying to calm him down, the medical device accidentally got disconnected, resulting in the boy’s death. Saudi courts later treated the matter as murder and sentenced him to death, with the verdict eventually being upheld by higher courts including the Supreme Court. However, after years of negotiations and humanitarian appeals, the victim’s family reportedly agreed in 2024 to accept blood money, known in Islamic law as Diyah, amounting to nearly 1.5 million Saudi Riyals, approximately ₹34 crore.

The Indian Embassy and members of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia played a major role in securing Raheem’s release by continuously pursuing the matter with Saudi authorities and raising financial support through crowdfunding campaigns. In its statement, the Embassy thanked Saudi officials for their cooperation and appreciated the Indian community for standing in solidarity with Raheem throughout the legal process. His return has triggered emotional reactions across Kerala, with many people describing it as a rare humanitarian victory after years of uncertainty and fear surrounding the death sentence case. Social media users and supporters also praised the diplomatic efforts and legal intervention that ultimately helped bring him back to India alive after 20 years behind bars.