India Calls For Urgent Probe From Venezuela Over Missing Organs From Seafarer's Repatriated Body

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Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday, July 3, said that it has formally raised concerns with Venezuela over the alleged desecration of Rakesh Chauhan’s mortal remains, including claims of organ removal and demanded an urgent probe. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have taken up the matter with Venezuelan authorities with a request to urgently investigate the matter..."Rakesh Chauhan, a resident of Langra Bazar Tola in the Deoria district, travelled to Venezuela in November 2025 as a crew member on a merchant ship through a private company. He died while on duty on a ship in Venezuela.

According to his family, the company informed them in May this year that Chauhan had sustained serious injuries after a fall and was undergoing treatment. The next morning, they were told that his chances of survival were only five per cent, and later the same day, they were informed of his death. The company attributed the death to injuries suffered in the fall and assured the family that the body would be sent to India within a week. However, the body reached Deoria about a month later in June, they said.The family alleged that several vital organs were missing from his body after it was repatriated from Venezuela. Chief Medical Superintendent, Deoria Medical College, Dr HK Mishra said that according to the post-mortem report, several major internal organs, including the brain, heart, both lungs, liver, both kidneys, spleen, pancreas, stomach and intestines, were missing, reported PTI. The report also noted that the thyroid, hyoid bone, larynx and trachea were missing.The report further recorded a stitched incision extending about 60 cm from the neck to the pubic region and another stitched incision of about 20 cm across the back of the head. It said the exact cause of death could not be ascertained due to the absence of internal organs.Rakesh Chauhan's father, Ramdev Chauhan, alleged that the family was kept in the dark about the circumstances surrounding his son's death. He claimed that no post-mortem report or official documents relating to the examination conducted abroad had been provided to them and demanded an impartial investigation. The Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India (FSUI), which flagged the issue on X, has termed the case "unacceptable" and demanded a thorough investigation.According to FSUI, Rakesh's mortal remains were sent back to his hometown in Uttar Pradesh "without any autopsy report or details from Venezuelan authorities." It demanded that the Venezuelan authorities be held accountable, the Indian Embassy intervene immediately, the complete post-mortem report be made public, the circumstances leading to the seafarer's death be thoroughly investigated, and the bereaved family be provided justice and adequate compensation.