The family of Rakesh Chauhan, a 33-year-old Indian seafarer whose body was repatriated from Venezuela, is calling for a thorough investigation following alarming findings from a second autopsy in Uttar Pradesh. The new post-mortem reportedly revealed that several major internal organs were missing, raising serious concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death. Chauhan, a resident of Deoria district, had joined a merchant vessel in Venezuela in November 2025.
According to his family, they were informed by the shipping company in May that Chauhan had sustained severe injuries from a fall on board and was receiving medical treatment. Shortly after, they were told he had only a five percent chance of survival, and later that day, they received news of his death. The company attributed his passing to the injuries and promised to return his body to India within a week, but it took nearly a month for it to arrive.
Initially, local doctors hesitated to perform a second autopsy, citing the need for authorization since an examination had already been conducted abroad. However, a second post-mortem was eventually ordered by the district magistrate. The findings indicated that critical organs, including the brain and heart, were absent, and the report noted significant surgical incisions. Chauhan’s father expressed frustration over the lack of transparency regarding his son’s death and called for an impartial investigation by both the central and state governments. The Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India also demanded accountability from Venezuelan authorities and urged the Indian Embassy to intervene.
