Indian Seafarer’s Organs Missing After Death in Venezuela, Family Seeks Probe

New Delhi– The family of an Indian seafarer who died in Venezuela in May has called for an investigation after an autopsy in India found that his internal organs, including his brain, heart and lungs, were missing.

Rakesh Chauhan, 33, a resident of Deoria district in Uttar Pradesh, was reportedly said to have died of cardiac arrest. His body was returned to India nearly a month after his death.

The Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India also demanded a comprehensive investigation into Chauhan’s death and the handling of his remains, saying the body arrived without an autopsy report or official documentation from Venezuelan authorities.

“Family demanded a re-autopsy. The official Post-Mortem Report conducted in India reveals a horrifying truth: NOT A SINGLE ORGAN was found in the body. Brain — Missing, Heart — Missing, Both Lungs — Missing, Liver, Kidneys, Spleen, Pancreas, Stomach, Intestines — ALL Missing, Thyroid, Hyoid, Larynx and Trachea — Missing,” the organization said in a post on X.

“Body showed extensive prior stitching (22 stitches neck to pubic symphysis + 21 stitches ear to ear). No antemortem injuries noted. Body kept in deep freeze for nearly a month. Cause of death: Could not be determined (all organs absent),” it added.

The federation called for intervention by the Indian Embassy in Venezuela, the release of the complete autopsy report and compensation for Chauhan’s family.

“This is unacceptable. Seafarers are becoming scapegoats. We demand a full investigation and accountability from Venezuelan authorities, immediate intervention by the Indian Embassy in Venezuela, complete autopsy report, circumstances of death, and justice + compensation for the family,” it said.

Chauhan had traveled to Venezuela in November 2025 to work as a crew member aboard a merchant vessel, according to his family.

Relatives said the shipping company initially told them that Chauhan had been injured in a fall aboard the vessel and was receiving treatment. They were later informed that he was unlikely to survive and, that evening, that he had died from his injuries.

The family said the company had promised to return his body within a week, but his remains were not handed over until June 4, nearly a month after his death.

Doctors in Deoria initially declined to conduct another autopsy because the body appeared to have already undergone a post-mortem examination. A second autopsy was later conducted following instructions from the district magistrate.

The Indian autopsy report documented stitched incisions extending from Chauhan’s neck to his pubic area and from one ear to the other. It listed numerous missing organs and anatomical structures, including the brain, thyroid, heart, lungs, stomach, intestines, spleen and kidneys.

Certain organs may be removed during an autopsy for forensic examination. However, the family said neither Venezuelan authorities nor the shipping company had provided documentation explaining why the organs were removed or clarifying Chauhan’s cause of death.

The family has demanded a thorough investigation to determine how Chauhan died and what happened to his organs. (Source: IANS)