The family of Indian seafarer Rakesh Chauhan has sought an investigation after a re-autopsy in Uttar Pradesh reportedly found multiple internal organs absent from his body, leaving doctors unable to determine the cause of death.
Rakesh Chauhan, a 33-year-old seafarer from Uttar Pradesh's Deoria district, died in Venezuela in May. | Photo source: X/@FSUIINDIA
The mysterious death of a 33-year-old Indian seafarer in Venezuela has sparked demands for an investigation after a re-autopsy in Uttar Pradesh reportedly found all major internal organs missing, leaving doctors unable to determine the cause of death. The findings have prompted his family and the Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India (FSUI) to demand a thorough investigation and intervention by the Indian government.
The case has raised disturbing questions because the family says Rakesh Chauhan’s body was repatriated without any autopsy report or official explanation from Venezuelan authorities. The Indian post-mortem reportedly found that the brain, heart, lungs and several other organs were absent, making it impossible to establish the cause of death.
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Rakesh Chauhan, a resident of Deoria district in Uttar Pradesh, had travelled to Venezuela in November 2025 to work as a crew member aboard a merchant vessel.
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According to his family, they were initially informed by the shipping company that Chauhan had suffered injuries after falling onboard and was undergoing treatment. The following morning, company officials allegedly told them there was only a five per cent chance of his survival. Later the same day, they were informed that Chauhan had died. When the family sought further clarification, they were allegedly told he had succumbed to injuries sustained in the fall.
The family said the company had assured them that Chauhan’s body would reach India within a week. However, his mortal remains arrived only on June 4, nearly a month after his death.
According to an NDTV report cited by IANS, doctors in Deoria initially declined to conduct another post-mortem after observing that the body appeared to have already undergone an autopsy. A fresh examination was later ordered by the District Magistrate.
The post-mortem report prepared in India documented stitched incisions running from the neck to the pubic symphysis and another incision extending from the left ear to the right ear across the occipital region. It also recorded that the body had remained in deep freeze from May 7 to June 5.
The report further noted that the brain, thyroid, hyoid bone, larynx, trachea, heart, lungs, stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, gall bladder, major blood vessels and several other internal organs were absent.
Doctors recorded that the cause of death could not be determined because the organs required for examination were missing.
Reacting to the findings, the Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India said Chauhan’s body had been returned to India without any autopsy report or official documentation explaining the circumstances of his death.
“The official Post-Mortem Report conducted in India reveals a horrifying truth: NOT A SINGLE ORGAN was found in the body,” the federation said in a statement posted on X.
It listed the missing organs as the brain, heart, both lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, stomach, intestines, thyroid, hyoid, larynx and trachea.
The federation further said the body showed “22 stitches neck to pubic symphysis + 21 stitches ear to ear”, that no ante-mortem injuries were noted, and that the body had remained in deep freeze for nearly a month.
It added: “Cause of death: Could not be determined (all organs absent).”
Calling the case “unacceptable”, the FSUI said, “Seafarers are becoming scapegoats.”
The organisation demanded “a full investigation and accountability from Venezuelan authorities”, “immediate intervention by the Indian Embassy in Venezuela”, release of the complete autopsy report, disclosure of the circumstances surrounding Chauhan’s death and “justice + compensation for the family”.
⚠️ SHOCKING CASE — Indian Seafarer #RakeshChauhan 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… pic.twitter.com/4dGSZtPEfp— FSUI (@FSUIINDIA) June 30, 2026
In subsequent posts on X, the federation raised additional allegations and sought answers over what it described as “deeply disturbing irregularities” in the handling of the case.
The FSUI questioned why vital organs were allegedly removed without informing or obtaining consent from the family and why the family was not provided the Venezuelan autopsy report before the body was repatriated.
It also alleged that the receipt accompanying Chauhan’s mortal remains bore the name “Anjana Chauraisya” instead of “Ranjana Chaurasiya”, whom it identified as signing on behalf of Chauhan’s wife.
The federation further claimed that the vessel mentioned in Chauhan’s employment agreement did not match the vessel on which he was actually deployed.
“These discrepancies raise grave suspicions of foul play and a possible cover-up. What is being hidden?” the organisation said.
The family of late Indian seafarer #RakeshChauhan is demanding the full autopsy report and immediate clarification on several deeply disturbing irregularities in the handling of his case in Venezuela.
Serious questions that need answers:
• Why were vital organs removed from his… pic.twitter.com/9sfCm5kb9A— FSUI (@FSUIINDIA) July 1, 2026
In another post, the federation said the case had raised “grave concerns over organ trafficking” and called for a thorough investigation into what it described as suspicious circumstances surrounding Chauhan’s death.
The family says the absence of an official Venezuelan autopsy report, coupled with the findings of the Indian re-autopsy, has deepened their suspicions about the circumstances surrounding Chauhan’s death.
They have demanded a comprehensive investigation into the incident and accountability from those responsible.
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