KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has kept alive the investigation into the untimely death of Suraj Lama, deported from Kuwait and mysteriously vanishing upon arrival in India. Rejecting pleas to dispose of the habeas corpus petition, Justices Devan Ramachandran and M.B. Snehulata instructed authorities to meticulously document every step from his deportation to the discovery of his remains.
Arriving in Kochi on an official order, Lama looked weak and potentially unwell. Shockingly, despite these red flags, he was cleared by immigration and airport officials without any support, free to exit unassisted. A subsequent missing complaint prompted police action: he was placed in protective custody and hospitalized at Kalamassery Medical College.
Released after doctors deemed him fit, Lama’s body surfaced soon after in the same area. Forensic confirmation matched it to him, but the December 1, 2025, interim autopsy failed to pinpoint the cause due to severe decomposition.
‘This matter is far from resolved,’ the bench asserted, refusing to end proceedings just because identity was established. Directing a high-ranking SIT under the City Police Commissioner, the court highlighted potential failures in immigration protocols, custody procedures, and medical evaluation. It addressed petitioner concerns over homicide possibilities but focused on timeline scrutiny.
Government counsel presented the post-mortem details, yet the court demanded full files for review. With lapses under the microscope, the hearing resumes in three weeks, promising deeper scrutiny into what went wrong for the vulnerable deportee.