Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Kerala High Court denies bail in kidney trade case
A court in Kerala, India, has decided that a man must stay in jail while police investigate him.
The man is accused of being part of a group that traded kidneys illegally, which is called organ trafficking.
He ran a company that seemed to help people travel for medical treatment, but police say it was used to organize illegal transplants.
Police also say he made fake papers by copying the names and seals of government doctors.
One person's kidney was taken and given to another person at a hospital, and money was paid for it.
The judge said that buying and selling body parts is a serious crime that hurts the whole of society.
He explained that poor people are often tricked into giving away their body parts for very little money.
The man said he only helped patients with accommodation and transport and did nothing wrong.
But the court said he was involved in similar crimes before, so he was not allowed out on bail.
Police are still searching for other people who helped with this illegal trade.
The Kerala High Court denied bail to Muhammed Najeeb Kallatra, operator of Kallatharas Medical Tourism Pvt Ltd, accused of illegal organ trafficking.
Justice Kauser Edappagath called organ trafficking 'a serious crime against humanity and society at large.'
Prosecution alleged Kallatra forged certificates, seals and signatures of government doctors to facilitate an illegal kidney transplant at Lakeshore Hospital, Ernakulam, on October 8, 2025.
The donor's husband stated Musthafa urgently needed an O+ kidney and that Rs 10 lakh was promised, with Rs 9 lakh handed over.
Kallatra claimed he only arranged accommodation, transportation and post-mortem care, but the court cited his criminal antecedents and denied bail.
Investigation is ongoing to identify remaining conspirators, middlemen and hospitals involved in the alleged organized illegal human trafficking network.
- Who
- Justice Kauser Edappagath of the Kerala High Court and accused medical tourism operator Muhammed Najeeb Kallatra.
- What
- The court denied bail to Kallatra, who is accused of forging doctors' certificates to facilitate illegal kidney transplantation and organ trafficking.
- When
- The bail order was dated August 11; Kallatra was arrested and sent to judicial custody on May 8; the alleged transplant occurred on October 8, 2025.
- Where
- Kerala High Court; the alleged transplant took place at Lakeshore Hospital, Ernakulam, Kerala.
- Why
- The court held that organ trafficking is a serious crime against humanity that exploits vulnerable people, and noted evidence of forgery and the accused's criminal antecedents.
Defense View
Prosecution View
Role in the case
Defense View
Kallatra claimed he was only arranging accommodation, transportation and post-mortem care for patients in Ernakulam and had no connection with the alleged illegal transplants or forgery.
Prosecution View
Prosecution said he ran the tourism company to make unlawful profit through illegal organ trade and forged doctors' certificates to facilitate transplantation.
Bail entitlement
Defense View
Advocate Shiraz Abdullah M S argued his client is innocent, falsely implicated, and that no material connects him to the crime, so he should be granted bail.
Prosecution View
The Public Prosecutor argued the incident resulted from the man's intentional criminal acts and that he is not entitled to bail at this stage.
Criminal background
Defense View
The defense did not address any prior record, focusing on the lack of evidence linking Kallatra to the alleged crime.
Prosecution View
The court noted Kallatra has criminal antecedents and was involved in several similar offences and other criminal cases, supporting denial of bail.
- Court
- Kerala High Court
- Presiding Justice
- Kauser Edappagath
- Accused
- Muhammed Najeeb Kallatra (53)
- Company
- Kallatharas Medical Tourism Pvt Ltd
- Alleged Transplant
- Kidney donated to Mr Musthafa at Lakeshore Hospital, Ernakulam, on October 8, 2025
- Alleged Payment
- Rs 10 lakh promised; Rs 9 lakh handed over
- Bail Decision
- Denied, order dated August 11
- Arrest
- May 8, sent to judicial custody