Kerala High Court Condemns Police Inaction in Deported Worker's Tragic Death
The perplexing disappearance of Bengaluru resident Suraj Lama, who was deported from Kuwait to Kochi on October 5, 2025, reached a sorrowful conclusion on Friday. Authorities confirmed that an unidentified body discovered in a marshy area near the Government Medical College in Ernakulam was indeed that of the missing man. This revelation came during a hearing at the Kerala High Court, which delivered scathing criticism of the police's handling of the entire case.
Forensic Evidence Presented in Court
A forensic examination report from the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology was formally presented before the Kerala High Court on Friday. This submission was made by the government pleader in direct response to a habeas corpus petition filed by Santom Lama, the son of the missing individual, who had sought judicial intervention to trace his father. The court, observing that all police efforts to locate Suraj Lama had ended in failure, issued stringent directives.
A bench comprising Justices Devan Ramachandran and M B Snehalatha ordered the Station House Officer of the Nedumbassery police station to appear personally before the court at 1:30 PM on Monday. The officer was instructed to bring all relevant case records, including the crucial post-mortem report. Furthermore, the court commanded the superintendent of the Government Medical College, Ernakulam, to release the body of Suraj Lama to his wife and son with due courtesies and honour upon production of the court's official order.
A Troubled Journey from Kuwait to Tragedy
Suraj Lama had been employed in Kuwait for several years. His ordeal began when he was hospitalized in Kuwait after suffering from acute toxic leukoencephalopathy, a severe brain condition caused by alcohol poisoning. This medical crisis followed an incident involving the consumption of toxic liquor in the Gulf nation. Reports indicate he was experiencing significant memory loss and disorientation as a result.
Despite this vulnerable medical state, Kuwaiti authorities proceeded with his deportation to India. He arrived at Kochi International Airport on October 5, 2025, without any proper intimation or notification being provided to his family back in Bengaluru. Following his arrival, Lama was reportedly sighted at multiple locations in and around Kochi, including Aluva Metro Station, Thrikkakara, and Kalamassery.
Alarmingly, he was allegedly taken into custody by the Thrikkakara police on October 10 and was later admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Kalamassery. His whereabouts became completely unknown after this point. Although his wife had lodged a formal missing person complaint with the Nedumbassery police on October 8, the report yielded no actionable results, compelling his son to approach the High Court for justice.
Court's Strong Rebuke and Investigation Orders
Despite the court issuing several directives, including the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), the police failed to trace Suraj Lama. During this prolonged period of investigation, a decomposed, unidentified male body was discovered in a marshy area near the medical college premises. This body has now been conclusively identified as belonging to Suraj Lama.
During the hearing on Friday, the High Court bench delivered a powerful and critical assessment of the police's conduct. The court noted with grave concern that although a missing person complaint was officially lodged on October 8, the Thrikkakara police took Lama into protective custody on October 10 and admitted him to the hospital, from where he subsequently went missing.
"Had the protocol with respect to a missing person been fully followed, and had the police realised that he was the missing person, Lama would be alive today. To live in this country, one needs some semblance of power; otherwise, people cannot," the court observed orally, highlighting a systemic failure. The High Court further stated it would thoroughly examine whether there was any deliberate inaction or negligence on the part of the authorities, including the police department.
Family's Grief and Demand for Accountability
Meanwhile, Santom Lama confirmed that his family has received the court's order and is likely to claim his father's body on Sunday. In a statement, he added that the family intends to press for stringent action against the police department for its failure to proactively intervene and trace his father in a timely manner. This case has raised serious questions about procedural lapses and the protection of vulnerable individuals within the system.
