Kochi, February 11 (IANS). The Kerala High Court on Wednesday refused to close the habeas corpus petition filed in connection with the disappearance and death of Suraj Lama, an Indian national who was deported from Kuwait.
Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M.B. Snehlatha’s division bench directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to continue its investigation.
The court said that the entire sequence of events, from Lama’s arrival in India till his body was found, should be investigated and properly documented.
Lama was deported from Kuwait and sent to Kochi on official orders.
The court said that he appeared weak and may have problems in thinking or understanding. Despite this, the immigration and airport authorities gave him clearance and allowed him to leave the airport without any assistance.
After a missing complaint was filed, the police took him into protective custody and admitted him to Kalamassery Medical College Hospital.
She was later discharged as doctors reportedly found no medical issues. Subsequently, a body was found from Kalamassery. A forensic report confirmed that it was Lama.
The government lawyer told the court that the interim post-mortem report dated December 1, 2025, said that the cause of death could not be determined due to excessive decomposition of the body.
The court said the case is still ‘completely open’ as the cause of death is still unknown. The petition cannot be closed merely because the dead body has been identified. The bench directed the investigating officer to produce the missing case file and post-mortem report.
The court also asked the SIT headed by an officer of the rank of City Police Commissioner or equivalent to continue the investigation.
The court took note of allegations of lapses at several stages, including immigration clearance, police handling and medical care.
The court also recorded the petitioner’s claim that the possibility of murder cannot be ruled out. The court clarified, “We are not investigating murder. We are investigating the sequence till the body is found.”
The next hearing of the case has been fixed after three weeks.
–IANS
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