Echoing concerns over a deportee’s neglect, Kerala High Court has mandated ongoing SIT inquiry into Suraj Lama’s disappearance and demise after Kuwait expulsion. The bench, Justices Devan Ramachandran and M.B. Sneh lata, dismissed closure of the habeas corpus writ, prioritizing comprehensive fact-finding.
Lama landed in Kochi per deportation directive, visibly debilitated and possibly impaired. Alarming lapses saw immigration and airport bodies approve his exit without intervention. A missing persons alert saw swift police response: protective hold and Kalamassery hospital admission ensued.
Cleared medically with no evident ailments, events took a grim turn with a badly decomposed body found in Kalamassery—ID’d as Lama’s via forensics. The 1 December 2025 preliminary autopsy yielded no cause, hampered by putrefaction.
The court labeled it an unresolved enigma, insisting identity alone doesn’t end scrutiny. It tasked a senior-led SIT with dissecting immigration, police, and health protocols for flaws. Full records must be tendered, amid petitioner homicide hints—though focus stays on chronology.
This ruling spotlights institutional gaps endangering repatriated citizens, setting stage for accountability. Proceedings advance in three weeks, as justice seeks clarity in tragedy.