The Kerala High Court has directed the competent authority at the Indian High Commission in the UK to submit a report on the whereabouts and welfare of a Malayali woman whose parents say they have had no information about her since she left India for higher studies.

A bench led by Justice P V Kunhikrishnan issued the direction while considering a habeas corpus petition filed by the woman's parents, who are from Kozhikode. The court has given the authority 15 days to submit its report and adjourned the case to October 28.

According to the petition, the woman travelled to the UK to pursue an MBA at Anglia Ruskin University. Her course began on January 8, 2024.

Her parents told the court that they had received no information about her whereabouts, safety or well-being since her departure. They also said she had travelled with Harshdeep Singh and expressed concern that he may have detained her.

The parents had approached the Indian High Commission seeking help in tracing her and establishing her safety.

High Commission contacted man named by parents

A consular official contacted Singh using the telephone number provided to the High Commission, according to the information placed before the court.

Singh reportedly told the official that he and the woman were living together happily and of their own free will, without any pressure or compulsion.

The parents, however, continued to seek confirmation that their daughter was living with Singh voluntarily and was not being subjected to coercion. They subsequently approached the Kerala High Court through the habeas corpus petition.

The court has now directed counsel for the Central government to communicate its order to the competent authority at the Indian High Commission and obtain a report within 15 days.

Indians remain prominent among UK student visa recipients

The case comes as Indians continue to account for a significant share of people travelling to the UK for education. UK Home Office migration statistics show that 95,231 sponsored study visas were granted to Indian nationals in 2025, representing 23% of all study visas issued to main applicants.

Indian nationals also recorded the highest numbers in several other UK visa categories, including sponsored study visas, skilled worker extensions and Graduate Route extensions, in the year ending December 2025.