Lok Sabha Question No. 1457 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-09
Subject: Human Organ Trafficking
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri K C Venugopal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1457

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH  DECEMBER, 2025/ AGRAHAYANA 18, 1947 (SAKA)

HUMAN ORGAN TRAFFICKING

1457.   SHRI K C VENUGOPAL: ADV. SHRI DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered cases relating to organised transnational human trafficking rackets to Iran;

(b) if so, the full details thereof, including the number of identified victims trafficked, the modus operandi and the current status of investigation;

(c)  the  number  of  similar/related  cases  registered  by  NIA  across  the country during the last five years, State-wise;

(d) whether there is an alarming increase in instances of human trafficking specifically for organ smuggling purposes; and

(e)  if  so,  the  concrete  measures  initiated  or  proposed  to  combat  this menace?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (c): Yes, the NIA has registered one case relating to smuggling of human organs on 03.07.2024, in which 05 identified victims had travelled to Iran on tourist visa; and the transplantation happened in hospitals in Tehran, Iran. These donors were lured in lieu of pecuniary benefits.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1457 FOR 09.12.2025

Charge sheet was filed in this case against 04 arrested accused persons under various sections of IPC. Case is currently under further investigation.

(d): The NCRB compiles and publishes crime statistics reported by the States and Union Territories. As per the latest published data, number of victims, trafficked for purpose of removal of organs and rescued during 2019 to 2023 is as under:

|   Year |   Number of victims, trafficked for purpose of removal of organs and rescued |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   2019 |                                                                            4 |
|   2020 |                                                                            0 |
|   2021 |                                                                            6 |
|   2022 |                                                                           17 |
|   2023 |                                                                            5 |

- (e): 'Police' and 'Public Order' being State subjects under the Seventh Schedule  to  the  Constitution  of  India,  the  primary  responsibility  for preventing and combating the crime of human trafficking lies with the State  Governments.  However,  the  Government  of  India  has  adopted  a multi-pronged approach to combat human trafficking, which includes :-
- Supplementing  the  efforts  of  the  States/UTs  by  providing  them guidelines  on  preventing  and  countering  Human  Trafficking  in  the form of various comprehensive Advisories issued from time to time.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1457 FOR 09.12.2025

- Providing  financial  assistance  to  States  and  Union  Territories  for upgrading and setting up Anti Human Trafficking Units.
- Assisting States and Union Territories in holding 'State level conferences' and 'Judicial Colloquiums' on a periodic basis, with a view  of  sensitizing  about  the  latest  initiatives/developments  for effectively addressing the issue of human trafficking.
- The Government has empowered the NIA through 'NIA (Amendment) Act, 2019', to investigate scheduled offences involving Indian citizens or Indian interests that are committed outside India.
- Further,  the  mandate  of  NIA  has  been  expanded  to  investigate offences related to Human Trafficking. For this purpose, an Exclusive Division,  namely  the  'Anti  Human  Trafficking  Division  (AHTD)',  has also been created in the set up of NIA.
- Implementation of 'Shakti Sadan Scheme' by Ministry of Women and Child Development, which provides an integrated relief and rehabilitation  home  for  women  in  distress  situations  including trafficked  women.  At  present,  407  'Shakti  Sadans'  are  functional throughout the country.

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