The police here on Sunday (November 30, 2025) recovered a decomposed body, suspected to be of Suraj Lama, a 58-year-old Bengaluru resident, from a forested area near the Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) premises in Kalamassery.
The remains, believed to be at least one-and-a-half months old, were discovered by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the missing case lodged by Lama’s son earlier in October.
The SIT searched the premises with the help of Fire and Rescue Services personnel after tracing Lama’s last known location using available CCTV footage.
Police sources said the recovered belongings, including the clothes on the decomposed body, matched the description of the missing person. Aluva DySP R. Rajesh told the media that Lama’s relatives had been informed about the recovery and were expected to reach Kochi later in the day. The identity of the deceased will be confirmed only after identification by the relatives and the necessary scientific examinations.
The Kalamassery police have registered a case in connection with the discovery of the body.
Lama was deported from Kuwait on October 5, reportedly following an alcohol-poisoning incident. His son had filed a habeas corpus plea before the High Court after Lama, who reportedly had memory loss, was subsequently reported missing from Kochi from October 10. Instead of being sent to Bengaluru, he was reportedly deported from Kuwait to Kochi without his relatives being informed. The Thrikkakara police had on October 8 taken him into custody and transported him in an ambulance to the Government Medical College Hospital at Kalamassery, from where he went missing.
The High Court had, in October, directed the Home Ministry to probe how Lama arrived at the Cochin International Airport after receiving emigration clearance.
Published – November 30, 2025 07:55 pm IST
