Police issue lookout circular against key suspect in illegl organ trade

Kochi: Ernakulam rural police investigating a racket involved in forging documents to facilitate illegal organ trade has issued a lookout circular against one of the key suspects in the case.The notice has been issued against Najeeb Kallatra, a native of Kasaragod residing in Peringala. Police said that the investigation has been intensified to find his other accomplices. Police, meanwhile, recorded the arrest of his wife, Rasheeda, 37, from her residence in Kunnathunadu. Other accused, including Sunny Varghese, his wife Sini Varghese from Kunnathunadu, and Sanoj, Sreeja and Sudheer from Chelakkulam, were earlier arrested in connection with the case. According to police, the accused are involved in organ trade under the guise of medical tourism. The police suspect that the racket has connections in other parts of the country as well as abroad. Police found that a medical tourism establishment led by Najeeb was operating out of Edathala. The company functioned as an intermediary, ensuring quality treatment and healthcare services to patients from other states and countries in collaboration with prominent hospitals in the state. The investigation has also begun focusing on the hospitals associated with the establishment, sources said. Police are verifying the data on patients who were associated with the scheme. Examination of documents seized during raids associated with the probe is also progressing. Police said that the racket used to identify individuals willing to donate organs, fabricate consent forms, affidavits, certificates and fake letters on letterheads of MLAs, MPs, senior police officers and hospitals. Reports and records from various medical labs were also forged. They also create fake letters to obtain police clearance certificates with the names and addresses of the donors. Such fake documents were seized during the raids. The investigation is led by district police chief K S Sudarshan, and all arrested individuals are in remand.