New Delhi: An Indian-origin man claiming to be from Punjab’s Jalandhar has been stranded at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia for nearly two weeks after Indian immigration authorities allegedly denied him entry at Delhi airport over the absence of a valid Indian passport, according to a report by ThePrint.

The man, identified as Aakash and believed to be in his 30s, was reportedly travelling from New Zealand to India using a New Zealand-issued Certificate of Identity, a document commonly provided to asylum-seekers and non-citizens unable to obtain a passport from their home country.

However, Indian immigration officials reportedly refused to accept the document as a valid travel paper for entry into India and asked him to produce an Indian passport. When he claimed that his passport had been lost and later expired, authorities denied him entry and placed him on a return flight to Auckland via Kuala Lumpur.

The situation took a dramatic turn when Aakash became stranded during the Malaysia stopover, with neither India nor New Zealand immediately allowing him to enter.

According to officials quoted in the report, Aakash had earlier left India and reportedly sought asylum in New Zealand citing threats to his life. It remains unclear whether he was officially granted refugee status.

A source said Indian authorities could not conclusively establish his citizenship without a valid Indian passport or recognised travel document.

A New Zealand Certificate of Identity is issued to non-citizens who cannot obtain a passport from their country. According to New Zealand immigration rules, the document allows holders to leave and re-enter New Zealand but does not automatically establish nationality.

Officials said Aakash allegedly did not disclose whether he had formally sought asylum in New Zealand at the time of arrival in Delhi.

The case gained attention after a video allegedly recorded by Aakash from Kuala Lumpur airport surfaced online and went viral on social media.

In the video, he claimed he had been stranded at the airport for several days without food, money, luggage or warm clothes. He also appealed to Indian authorities for urgent help.

Aakash said he had decided to return permanently to India because his situation in New Zealand had become difficult and his father was unwell.

He further alleged that Indian immigration officials held him at Delhi airport for two days for verification before sending him back on a flight despite being informed that he no longer had a valid New Zealand visa.

The matter could soon be resolved if Aakash is able to obtain an Indian passport through the Indian High Commission in Malaysia.