The Kunnathunad police have arrested three persons, suspected to be part of an organ trafficking network, for allegedly forging documents relating to organ donation in two related cases. Three others are absconding.

The arrested are Sunny Varghese, 56, of Thadiyan house, Kumarapuram, Kizhakkambalam and his wife Sini Varghese, 50, and Sanoj K.P., 32 of Chelakkulam, Pattimattom. Najeeb Kallatra and Rasheeda, both from Peringala, and one Asif were absconding.

The police registered the cases suo motu based on a tip-off.

According to the FIRs, the accused forged letterheads of two major hospitals in Ernakulam, including name and seal of doctors as well as blank letterheads in the name of outgoing Uduma MLA C.H. Kunhambu and affidavits in the name of Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden.

The FIRs state that Mr. Kallatra, named the first accused in both cases, allegedly provided the details for the fake documents which were forged at a computer centre run by Mr. Varghese and his wife at Pallikkara in Kunnathunad. Mr. Kallatra, in turn, allegedly added other details in the forged documents and got them printed out from the same shop. The others are alleged to be accomplices of Mr. Kallatra.

The accused have been charged with forgery under Section 336 and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The arrested people were produced before the court and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.