The deceased, 33-year-old Rakesh Chauhan, was a resident of Lagda Bazar Tola in Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh. He had travelled to Venezuela in November 2025 as a crew member aboard a merchant vessel after being deployed by Xfinity. According to his family, they were informed by the company that Chauhan had died in May 2026, allegedly due to cardiac arrest. However, the circumstances surrounding his death have remained unclear, and the controversy deepened after his body was repatriated to India.
The Federation of Seafarers' Unions of India stated through its official social media account that Chauhan's body was returned to his hometown without any autopsy report or official explanation from Venezuelan authorities regarding the cause of death. The organization stated that the family demanded a second post-mortem examination, which reportedly exposed alarming findings.
According to the Federation of Seafarers' Unions of India, the Indian post-mortem examination revealed that none of Chauhan's major internal organs were present in the body. The report allegedly found that the brain, heart, both lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, stomach, intestines, thyroid gland, hyoid bone, larynx, and trachea were all missing. The organization further stated that the body bore extensive surgical stitching, including a 60-centimetre incision extending from the neck to the pubic region secured with 22 stitches, along with a 20-centimetre incision extending from one ear to the other across the back of the head secured with 21 stitches.
The Federation also stated that the body had remained in deep-freeze storage for nearly one month and that the official cause of death could not be determined because all major internal organs had been removed. It described the condition of the remains as raising serious concerns regarding transparency, the treatment of Indian seafarers working abroad, and the responsibilities of foreign authorities.
Calling the incident unacceptable, the Federation of Seafarers' Unions of India demanded a complete investigation into the circumstances surrounding Chauhan's death. The organization also called for accountability from Venezuelan authorities, immediate intervention by the Indian Embassy in Venezuela, the release of the complete autopsy report, disclosure of the circumstances leading to the death, and justice and compensation for the bereaved family.
According to Chauhan's family, they initially received information from company officials that he had suffered injuries after falling aboard the ship and was receiving medical treatment. They stated that the following morning they were informed that there was only a five percent chance of his survival. Later that same evening, the company confirmed his death. When family members sought clarification regarding the cause, they were allegedly informed that Chauhan had died from the severe injuries sustained in the fall.
The family further stated that the company assured them Chauhan's body would be returned within one week. However, they alleged that the remains reached Deoria only on June 4, nearly one month after his death.
Chauhan's father, Ram Dev Chauhan, alleged that the family was kept completely uninformed throughout the process. He stated that although an initial post-mortem examination had already been conducted overseas, the second examination ordered by the District Magistrate revealed that the internal organs were missing and the exact cause of death could not be established. He demanded that the government initiate action against the company and conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
After the body arrived in Deoria, a team of doctors examined the remains in the presence of police officials. The doctors initially declined to perform another post-mortem examination, stating that an autopsy appeared to have already been conducted and that a fresh examination could not proceed without official authorization. A second post-mortem was subsequently carried out following an order issued by the District Magistrate.
The post-mortem report prepared in Deoria documented that both eyes and the mouth were closed and noted the presence of a stitched incision extending from the neck to the pubic symphysis measuring approximately 60 centimetres with 22 stitches. Another stitched incision measuring approximately 20 centimetres extended from the left ear to the right ear across the occipital region and contained 21 stitches. The report further recorded that the body had turned bluish in colour, portions of the skin had peeled away, and the remains had been kept in deep-freeze storage from May 7, 2026, until June 5, 2026.
⚠️ SHOCKING CASE — Indian Seafarer #RakeshChauhan reported dead in #Venezuela.
— FSUI (@FSUIINDIA) June 30, 2026
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
The medical report further stated that the cranium had been opened and that the meninges and blood vessels associated with the brain were absent. It also recorded the absence of the brain, thyroid gland, hyoid bone, larynx, trachea, pleural cavities, heart, both lungs, pericardium, coronary arteries, major blood vessels, stomach, gallbladder, intestines, spleen, kidneys, and several other vital internal organs.
Medical experts note that during a standard forensic autopsy, certain organs such as the heart, kidneys, gallbladder, and other internal organs may be removed for detailed examination and laboratory testing. However, in this case, the controversy has intensified because neither Venezuelan authorities nor the shipping company provided the family with an official autopsy report or a clear explanation of the circumstances surrounding Chauhan's death. The absence of official documentation and the inability of the Indian post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death have further deepened the mystery.
The case has now emerged as a significant concern involving the welfare and protection of Indian seafarers employed overseas. With unanswered questions surrounding the death, the removal of internal organs, the absence of official medical records, and the delayed repatriation of the body, the family continues to seek justice while demands grow for a transparent international investigation into the incident.
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