CB-CID rules out organ theft involving Viluppuram ashram

The Crime Branch CID of the Tamil Nadu police has ruled out allegations of organ theft from hundreds of inmates admitted to Anbu Jothi Ashram in Villuppuram district and later shifted to homes outside the State.

Investigators traced several destitute women, beggars and mentally challenged people among others who were moved to other NGOs in Rajasthan and Karnataka. 

The agency is investigating allegations that many people, including senior citizens, abandoned by their family and living near railway stations, bus stands, temples and other public places in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu, were forcibly picked up by agents in private ambulances and taken to the ashram where they were beaten up. 

It was also apprehended the inmates who were shifted to other places within the State and outside could have been victims of organ theft.

No evidence of organ theft

“A full body scan was conducted on dozens of people who were transferred from the Viluppuram ashram to homes outside the State. There was no evidence of any organ theft. Even in cases where a couple of them had died due to certain ailments, the bodies were exhumed and a post-mortem was conducted,” a senior investigator told The Hindu.

The offences of using forged certificates, such as police clearances for treating and transporting the inmates to homes in Rajasthan and Karnataka were being probed. The huge quantity of medicines meant for neurological issues that were seized from the premises of the ashram were procured from government hospitals on the basis of prescriptions given by doctors, the officer said. 

Evidence of sexual assault 

On two complaints of sexual assault, evidence had been established corroborating the allegations made by the victims and the investigation was nearing completion, the officer said.

Sources in the investigating agency said a monkey caged in the ashram had bitten some inmates. Action as per law was being initiated against the concerned for caging the monkey and making the people vulnerable to its attack. 

The Anbu Jothi Ashram, an unlicensed home admitting beggars, destitute, mentally challenged people, alcohol addicts and others, which functioned since 2005 at Kundalapuliyur in Villupuram district was shut down in early 2023, after government authorities conducted a raid following allegations of serious irregularities and human rights violations. A team of the National Human Rights Commission had also inspected the ashram.