Kerala organ donation forgery racket busted; 6 arrested, hospitals under scanner
Ernakulam- Six people have been arrested in connection with an alleged illegal organ donation racket involving forged documents, with the investigation now being expanded to determine how hospital protocols may have been bypassed.
In a joint operation conducted by the Ernakulam Rural Police and the Kochi City Police, a gang allegedly supplying forged documents was busted. So far, a total of six members have been arrested from various parts of Kerala in connection with this case, including the alleged mastermind, Najeeb, who was taken into custody in Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking to reporters, Commissioner Kumar stated that coordinated efforts have been initiated by police units across the state. State hospitals will also be brought under the scope of the investigation. The racket used to identify victims, provide them with money, and subsequently fabricate forged documents, according to Rediff.
“Hospitals will become part of the investigation as it progresses. Whether this was done with or without their knowledge, this is an area where strict SOPs and procedures are in force. We need to examine how those procedures were bypassed”, he said.
According to the police, the organ donation process involves complex verification procedures for donors and recipients, requiring certificates from the police, local bodies, doctors, MLAs, and MPs; and it is alleged that the accused submitted forged documents during this process.
Meanwhile, the FIR stated that the gang had been active since August 2023 and had allegedly created forged letterheads of two private hospitals in Kochi, fake police clearance certificates, and forged letters and letterheads in the names of former Uduma MLA C.H. Kunhambu, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, former Kuthuparamba MLA K.P. Mohanan, former Aroor MLA Daleema Jojo, former Kerala Chief Whip N. Jayaraj, and Alathur MP K. Radhakrishnan.
After the matter came to light, a case was registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to forgery and the use of forged documents.
