Suraj Lama case: HC seeks report from police, immigration authorities

The Kerala High Court has sought a report from the police and the immigration authorities in connection with the disappearance of Bengaluru resident Suraj Lama, who had been reported missing from Kochi since October 10, 2026, following his deportation from Kuwait.

His body was subsequently found in a highly decomposed state in a forested area at Kalamassery.

The High Court had sought a report from the police and immigration authorities after the State government submitted a memo on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ernakulam, detailing the sequence of events from the time Lama landed at the airport here to when his body was found. The court thereafter observed that there were noticeable gaps in the report, particularly during the immigration clearance process and the subsequent handling of the matter by the police, especially in dealing with the missing person complaint.

Citing the need for a protocol to handle such deportees, the court had earlier expressed concern over the manner in which Lama was handled by immigration personnel at the airport, though he was said to have cognitive and other impairments.

Soon after Lama went missing, his son Santon Lama filed a habeas corpus plea before the High Court.