Kerala organ donation racket: Five detained for forging documents in Ernakulam raids
Police said the accused allegedly created fake certificates, hospital letterheads and endorsement letters to facilitate organ donation procedures in Kerala
Five persons have been taken into custody, and multiple locations were raided by police after officials received a tip-off about an organ donation racket selling forged documents to organ donors and recipients in Pallikkara, Kerala.
Police on Friday (May 8) said that two cases have been registered following the raids, and a detailed investigation has been launched into the matter.
Custody and raids
Elaborating further, police identified those who have been taken into custody as Najeeb Kallathara and his wife Rasheeda of Peringala in Ernakulam district, Sunny Varghese and his wife Sini Varghese of Kunnathunadu in Ernakulam, and Sanoj K P of Chelakkulam, Pattimattom, Ernakulam.
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The accused were taken into custody following raids conducted at the residences of the accused and a digital studio in Pallikkara. Police are currently looking for Asif, suspected to be part of the racket, officials said.
Forgery of documents
According to police, since the organ donation procedure for recipients and donors involves complex verification processes that require certificates from police, local bodies, doctors, MLAs, and MPs, the accused allegedly forged such certificates.
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The FIRs stated that the gang had been active since August 2023 and had allegedly forged letterheads of two private hospitals in Kochi, fake police clearance certificates and fake letters and letterpads purportedly of former Uduma MLA C H Kunhambu, MP Hibi Eden, former Koothuparamba MLA K P Mohanan, former Aroor MLA Daleema Jojo, former Kerala Chief Whip N Jayaraj and Alathur MP K Radhakrishnan.
Use of fake endorsements
Apart from these, the accused allegedly forged letterheads of the Ambalapuzha Deputy Superintendent of Police and the Kunnamkulam Assistant Commissioner of Police.
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Police also said that the accused forged the recommendation letters of several leading doctors.
Officials said computers, mobile phones and DVRs were seized during the raids.
Wider investigation underway
Police said a detailed probe has been launched into people who allegedly received assistance from the racket for organ donation procedures.
Officials also said possible links between the racket and people in other states are being investigated.
The cases were registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to forgery and the use of forged documents.
(With agency inputs)