JUDGMENT :

The petitioner is the owner of an excavator bearing No. KL-78-0404. The petitioner rents out his excavator for earth moving works. On 29.01.2025, an owner of a land in Mananthavady Village took the excavator on rent to dig a wastewater pit in his property. The landowner told the petitioner’s driver that his property is a dry land. On the next day, the petitioner’s driver was directed by the 2^nd respondent to take the excavator to the 1^st respondent’s office. The 1^st respondent told the petitioner’s driver that the excavator was seized. The excavator was seized without any inspection, and based on false information. Even though the petitioner requested the respondents 1 to 3 to release the excavator, the same was to no avail. The petitioner has received information through his friend under the Right Information Act, which substantiates that though the excavator was seized on 29.01.2025, the 2^nd respondent sent the mahazar and sketch only the next day. The earth work