Indian Embassy Presses Venezuela for Probe After Family Alleges Missing Organs in Deceased Seafarer's Body
A second post-mortem in India found all major organs missing, and the seafarer’s family and union are seeking accountability and compensation.
- The body of 33-year-old Indian merchant navy sailor Rakesh Chauhan returned to Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, from Venezuela with several vital internal organs missing, prompting his family to demand a thorough investigation.
- Chauhan traveled to Venezuela in November 2025 to work aboard a merchant vessel recruited by Xfinity; the company allegedly promised his remains within a week, yet they arrived nearly a month later.
- A second post-mortem in India revealed extensive surgical incisions, including a 60-cm cut running from neck to pubic region and a 20-cm incision across the head, while noting the absence of the brain, heart, and lungs.
- The Federation of Seafarers' Unions of India questioned "why were vital organs removed from his body without informing the family or seeking their consent?" and urged the Ministry of External Affairs to secure the Venezuelan autopsy report.
- Alleging "grave suspicions of foul play and a possible cover-up" regarding forged receipts and vessel discrepancies, the FSUI stated, "Seafarers' lives and dignity cannot be treated with such callousness" while demanding accountability from Venezuelan authorities.
26 Articles
26 Articles
The Embassy of India demanded that the Venezuelan authorities clarify why the body of the sailor Rakesh Chauhan arrived in his country without brain, heart, lungs or digestive system.
Indian seafarer's body sent back from Venezuela without brain, heart, lungs, intestines — Is it a murder case?
The remains of Indian seafarer Rakesh Chauhan were sent back from Venezuela without brain, heart, lungs, intestines, raising suspicions of foul play and murder case. His family has lodged complaints with Indian authorities.
Taken up matter with Venezuelan authorities; requested urgent investigation: MEA on alleged desecration of deceased sailors body - The Tribune
India on Friday said that it has urgently requested Venezuelan authorities to look into the matter after a deceased Indian sailor's body was desecrated, according to the claims made by the family.
India has asked the Venezuelan authorities for a thorough investigation into the desecration and removal of organs from the remains of the Indian sailor Rakesh Chauhan, whose body was repatriated from Venezuela without most of its internal organs, according to a medical report. The death certificate, issued by the Police Clinic Las Especialidades, pointed out that Chauhan died due to an acute myocardial infarction, bilateral pulmonary edema and …
Seafarer's body returned from Venezuela with 'missing' organs; Indian embassy seeks probe
The Indian Embassy in Venezuela is demanding a full investigation into allegations that Indian sailor Rakesh Chauhan's organs were removed before his body was sent home. His family claims he died suspiciously on a Venezuelan vessel, and a second post-mortem in India revealed his body was completely devoid of internal organs. The Forward Seamen's Union of India is also pushing for answers and has highlighted discrepancies in repatriation document…
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