Kochi, 18 June (H.S.):The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out extensive searches across Kerala as part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged organ trafficking racket that is accused of facilitating illegal organ donations using forged documents and financial inducements.
The raids were conducted at several private hospitals and residential premises in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam. According to the ED, the investigation was initiated on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by the Kerala Police in different districts against individuals allegedly involved in arranging unlawful organ transplants.
Officials said preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused operated as intermediaries between organ donors, recipients and hospitals, charging substantial amounts of money to facilitate organ donations. Based on these findings, the agency registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and launched a detailed probe into the financial transactions linked to the network.
The searches primarily targeted hospitals that allegedly had financial dealings with Najeeb, who is considered one of the key accused in the case. In Kochi alone, ED teams conducted raids at three locations. Investigators are examining banking records, financial transactions and medical documents related to organ donation procedures to trace the movement of funds and identify the beneficiaries of the alleged illegal activities.
The agency is also probing allegations that forged documents were used to obtain approvals for organ donations and transplants. Officials suspect that the accused manipulated records to establish false relationships between donors and recipients or to secure mandatory clearances required under the law.
Authorities noted that the organ donation process in India is subject to strict scrutiny and involves multiple levels of verification. Approvals typically require certifications from local self-government institutions, police authorities, medical professionals and, in certain cases, elected representatives. Investigators believe the accused may have used fabricated documents to bypass these safeguards and facilitate illegal transplant procedures.
The ED said the ongoing searches are aimed at gathering evidence on the financial network behind the racket and determining whether hospitals or other entities knowingly participated in the alleged scheme. Officials expect the documents and digital records seized during the raids to shed further light on the operational structure of the network and the flow of money involved.
The investigation is continuing, and further action is likely based on the evidence collected during the searches.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
