Police on alert as racketeers forge papers for organ trade after Kerala raids

The report notes that five cases have been registered and nine people arrested (six from Ernakulam, three from Kollam). Forged documents included non-suitability certificates and certificates of altruism; investigators say the network operates like a 'money chain network' and may have been active for nearly three years. Documents seized suggest connections across districts and potential further cases as authorities analyse them.

Debin Joseph, a native of Marayoor, was arrested. He is described as an alleged middleman who lured financially vulnerable people into the organ-racket; police said he was arrested on Thursday, May 13, 2026.

Data compiled till May 12, 2026 shows 3,462 patients awaiting organ transplants in the state, of whom 2,566 require kidney transplants.

Police conducted raids across Kerala following an intelligence input, uncovering a network forging documents to facilitate organ transplants. Five cases were registered and nine people were arrested (six from Ernakulam and three from Kollam). Forged documents recovered included letterheads of MPs and MLAs, hospital letterheads, lab reports and fake seals, seized from two shops in Kunnathunad and from the residence of Muhammed Najeeb, the alleged kingpin.

A middle-aged man visited the office of the Superintendent of Police (Ernakulam Rural), Aluva, to obtain a police clearance certificate for an organ donation to an unrelated recipient. The handling officer personally doubted the claim but still granted the required clearance.