Main accused in Kochi organ papers forgery case nabbed in UP

KOCHI: A suspected kingpin of a Kerala-based racket accused of supplying forged documents for organ donors and recipients was arrested from Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, police said. The accused, identified as Najeeb, is a native of Peringala in Kunnathunad near Kochi and is considered the prime accused in multiple cases linked to fake documents allegedly used to facilitate organ donations. Ernakulam Rural Police Chief K S Sudarshan said Najeeb had fled Kerala after police cracked down on the racket. “After our team busted the racket, Najeeb switched off his mobile phone and left the state. Our team, following a scientific probe, tracked the accused in Uttar Pradesh and arrested him. We suspect that he was planning to escape to Nepal,” Sudarshan said. Police said efforts were underway to bring him to Kochi on Sunday itself, depending on flight availability. The arrest comes a day after police took Najeeb’s wife into custody. Earlier, investigators had arrested Sunny Varghese (56) and his wife Sini Varghese (50), natives of Morakkala in Kunnathunad, along with Sanoj (32), a native of Chelakkulam in Pattimattom. In a related case, Kilikollur police in Kollam district also arrested two accused identified as Sreeja and Sudheer. According to investigators, the gang allegedly forged several documents required during the organ donation approval process, including certificates issued by police, local bodies, doctors, MLAs and MPs. Police said the racket had allegedly been operating since August 2023. FIRs state that the accused forged letterheads of two private hospitals in Kochi, fake police clearance certificates and recommendation letters in the names of several politicians and officials. These allegedly included forged letters and letterheads in the names of former Uduma MLA C H Kunhambu, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, former Koothuparamba MLA K P Mohanan, former Aroor MLA Daleema Jojo, former Kerala Chief Whip N Jayaraj and Alathur MP K R Radhakrishnan. Investigators also alleged that forged letterheads were created in the names of the Ambalapuzha Deputy Superintendent of Police and the Kunnamkulam Assistant Commissioner of Police. Police further claimed that recommendation letters of several leading doctors were fabricated as part of the racket. Officials said statements of organ donors linked to the case had been recorded. Cases have been registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita dealing with forgery and the use of forged documents.