Kerala High Court Modifies Order To Trace Missing Kuwaiti Man, Directs State Police Chief To Constitute SIT

The Kerala High Court on Monday (October 27) modified the interim order which directed the Commissioner of Police to constitute a Special Investigation Team to trace out Suraj Lama, who has been missing since October 5 after he arrived in Kochi from Kuwait.

The Division Bench comprising Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M.B. Snehalatha took up the matter at the request of the Government Pleader who requested that the directions be issued to the State Police Chief instead.

The bench thus said, "We, therefore, order that the directions in our order dated 25/10/2025 will be to the State Police Chief and the said Authority shall inform us the necessary action by the next posting date."

Previously the court had directed the Commissioner of Police to constitute the SIT which was to be headed by an officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police. 

Background

Santon Lama, the son of the missing Suraj Lama, had come before the High Court seeking a direction to the respondents to conduct an immediate and time-bound investigation into the disappearance of his father.

After a spell of no communication from the petitioner's father, who has been engaged in hotel business in Kuwait; the petitioner was informed that his father was admitted in a hospital due to alcohol poisoning. It was also informed that the petitioner's father appeared to be suffering from partial memory loss, speech impairment and even unable to recall his own name.

Later, Suraj Lama was stated to be transferred to a deportation centre in Kuwait and on 07.10. 2025, his friend sent a photograph of an air ticket, which was alleged taken from the mobile phone of a security guard. The ticket showed that the flight was from Kuwait to Kochi on 05.10.2025.

On receipt of this information, Santon and his mother had travelled to Kochi and registered a complaint before the Nedumbassery Police Station near Cochin International Airport (CIAL). Subsequently, the petitioner received information that his father was seen in many places in Kochi but he could not be traced out.

The petitioner approached the media for assistance and thereafter, seeing the media reports, the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) has reached out to him. He even made a representation to the Commissioner of Police and conducted independent enquiries but to no avail. Aggrieved, he approached the High Court.

Case No: WP (Crl) No. 1421/2025

Case Title: Santon Lama v. State of Kerala and Ors.

Counsel for Petitioner: A Parvathi Menon

Click Here To Read/ Download Interim Order