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Ernakulam: In a major development in the illegal organ donation case, the National Investigation Agency has arrested the key accused in a case involving the trafficking of people to Iran.
The accused is Ernakulam native Madhu Jayakumar. He is currently being interrogated at the NIA office in Kochi.
According to NIA sources, the probe team nabbed him when he returned from Iran on November 8 and produced him before the court in Kochi on November 12. The court has remanded Madhu to NIA custody till November 19.
The human trafficking incident came to light on May 18, 2024, when officials of the Bureau of Immigration at Kochi airport intercepted a youth on suspicion. Following this, the Ernakulam Rural Police registered a case, which was later handed over to the NIA.
The investigation revealed that the accused targeted financially distressed individuals and lured them to Iran under the pretext of legal organ donation. The racket identified organ recipients and facilitated their treatment in Iranian hospitals, falsely claiming that the procedure was lawful there.
In 2024, the NIA filed a chargesheet against four people — Madhu, Sabith, Sajith Shyam, and Bellamkonda Ram Prasad. In February 2025, an Interpol Red Corner Notice was issued against Madhu, who had been residing in Iran.
Madhu’s arrest is crucial for the NIA, as he is believed to have controlled the organ-trafficking operations in Iran..
