The Kerala High Court has stepped up its oversight in the high-profile Suraj Lama death probe, revising its directive to place a senior DIG at the helm of the Special Investigation Team, moving away from the originally specified Police Commissioner.
This adjustment came during Monday’s hearing before Justices Devan Ramachandran and M.B. Snehaltha, prompted by submissions from the state’s legal representative. The February 11 interim order had earlier called for leadership at the Commissioner level.
Lama’s ordeal began upon his deportation from Kuwait and arrival at Kochi. Despite appearing extremely weak and disoriented—suffering from apparent mental and physical frailties—he was permitted to exit the airport without assistance. He went missing soon after, only for his decomposed remains to be found in Kalamassery, positively identified through forensics.
Judicial scrutiny intensified as the court grilled authorities on protocols for deportees in vulnerable conditions. ‘Is there any standard operating procedure for such cases?’ the bench had questioned earlier, underscoring administrative lapses.
Refusing to dispose of the habeas corpus plea even after body identification, the court has now instructed the SIT to meticulously document every event from Lama’s touchdown to his demise. Murder remains a viable angle, officials noted.
This leadership change signals the court’s push for a thorough, unbiased inquiry. Stakeholders await revelations that could reform airport security and expatriate repatriation processes across India.