Indian Embassy Demands Probe Into Venezuelan Sailor's Body Desecration

Indian Embassy in Venezuela seeks thorough probe into alleged desecration of deceased sailor's body

Caracas, July 3

In a statement, the Embassy of India in Caracas said it has been pursuing the matter with the local authorities since the incident came to light.

"The Embassy of India, Caracas has sought a thorough investigation by Venezuelan authorities on the desecration and removal of organs of the mortal remains of late Shri. Rakesh Chauhan. Mission has continued to pursue this matter with the concerned local authorities since the incident came to light," the embassy said.

The development comes after Chauhan's wife, Ranjana, alleged that her husband died under suspicious circumstances in Venezuela and claimed that his organs were removed before his body was sent back to India.

Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Ranjana alleged that the company employing her husband failed to provide any proper explanation regarding his death.

"My husband had gone to work on a ship; he was murdered there, and his organs were removed. To this day, they haven't given us a proper report, despite our repeated requests. They didn't even return his personal belongings; they wouldn't even speak to us properly; the company representatives were dismissive," she said.

She further said that the family initially waited for the body to arrive in India and later decided to conduct a second post-mortem.

"We were just expecting the body to arrive. When we had a second post-mortem done here, the report revealed that not a single organ remained in the body. We lodged complaints everywhere, with the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi and other relevant authorities, but nothing came of it... I last spoke to him on 6 May... I think it was only two or three hours after he left for duty that my father-in-law received a call saying there had been an accident and that they were taking him to the hospital," she added.

The Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) also raised the issue and claimed that the post-mortem conducted in India found no internal organs in Chauhan's body. According to the union, the brain, heart, both lungs, kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas, stomach, intestines, thyroid, hyoid bone, larynx and trachea were all reportedly missing.

In a statement, the FSUI said, "SHOCKING CASE -- Indian Seafarer Rakesh Chauhan reported dead in Venezuela. Mortal remains sent back to his hometown in Uttar Pradesh without any autopsy report or details from Venezuelan authorities. Family demanded re-autopsy. The official Post-Mortem Report conducted in India reveals a horrifying truth: NOT A SINGLE ORGAN was found in the body."

The FSUI urged the Embassy of India in Venezuela and the Ministry of External Affairs to intervene urgently.

The FSUI also alleged irregularities in the documentation related to the return of Chauhan's mortal remains.

"The receipt for mortal remains was forged -- signed in the name of 'Anjana Chauraisya' instead of 'Ranjana Chaurasiya' (on behalf of his wife). The vessel name mentioned in the employment agreement does not match the vessel where he was actually posted," it said.

— ANI