A 28-year-old Sri Lankan refugee, who was lodged at the Mandapam refugee camp near here for illegally staying in India, was released following Madras High Court orders.

"Ahamed Iqmal is free to leave for his country with his father, Mohammed Bowser, after the latter paid Rs 32,000, as per the court orders, for his son's illegal stay in India," customs officials said.

Last week, the High Court had ordered his release from the camp, on payment of the fine for staying in the country without valid documents.

Iqmal was nabbed by the customs officials when he tried to flee India in June, from Dhanushkodi near here with the help of Selvaraj. Subsequently, he was imprisoned before being shifted to the Mandapam refugee camp.

His father had then approached the Madras High Court's Madurai Bench seeking his release from the camp for returning to Sri Lanka.

Bowser had contended that his son had lost his documents when he was receiving treatment at Nagore and that he had come to India with proper document.

"The officials were not releasing him though he wanted to go back," he had alleged.

(News Today)