The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches at several leading private hospitals and suspects' residences across Kerala as part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged organ trafficking racket. The central agency's probe is based on FIRs registered by police in May this year.
Probe Details
While a special investigation team of Kerala police is probing the alleged criminal conspiracy, forgery and possible human trafficking involved in the case, the ED is investigating suspected money laundering and the possible involvement of hospital officials.
Officials from the Kochi zonal unit of the agency carried out searches at multispecialty hospitals and residences in Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kottayam districts. The ED is investigating the alleged proceeds of crime generated by the main accused, Mohammed Najeeb Kallatra, through the organ trafficking network.
Searches and Documentation
The searches, which continued for several hours, began amid suspicion that staff at some hospitals may have connived with the accused to facilitate the alleged fraud. Sources said officials examined organ transplantation records and other related documents during the exercise. The agency is scrutinising donor registries, transplant records, internal approvals and financial documents. It may also question hospital managements and doctors if evidence of negligence or complicity emerges.
Hospitals have maintained that all transplant procedures were carried out in accordance with the prescribed norms. However, the ED is examining whether external agents manipulated the approval process using forged documents to facilitate illegal transplants. It is also probing whether any financial transactions took place between the accused and hospital officials.
Verification Process
The organ donation process involves multiple layers of verification, requiring certificates and clearances from the police, local bodies, doctors, MLAs and MPs. The accused allegedly relied on forged documents to bypass these safeguards.
Police arrested Najeeb from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh last month. The investigation found that the alleged racket had been operating for about five years and was involved in around 40 organ transplants. Police have also arrested several alleged intermediaries linked to the trafficking network.
