Organ trade: Police get custody of Najeeb

Kochi: Ernakulam Rural Police secured custody of Mohammed Najeeb (53), the alleged mastermind behind a forgery racket linked to illegal organ trading, and his wife Rasheeda, (37), on Wednesday for detailed interrogation.Police told the Kolenchery judicial first class magistrate court that custodial interrogation was essential to uncover details of the racket, which is suspected to have facilitated illegal organ transplants across multiple districts in Kerala and possibly other states as well. Najeeb, who has a criminal background and is listed as an accused in 12 cases—including the 2017 Mangalapuram goonda gang murder—was operating a medical tourism firm, Kallatras Medical Tourism Pvt Ltd, according to an FIR registered by Vadakkekara police. Investigators said seized records revealed that forged documents were used to facilitate organ donations. Seized records included discharge summaries from a prominent private hospital in the city and govt documents that had previously rejected permission for organ donation. Police have registered multiple FIRs in connection with the case. After hearing the police submissions, the court granted the custody plea and ordered that both accused remain in police custody until May 18.