NEW DELHI:In a significant crackdown on an illegal kidney transplant network, Delhi police have arrested 15 individuals linked to a large-scale kidney trafficking operation. The arrested suspects include transplant coordinators, recipients, and donors involved in the racket.
Authorities have registered 34 cases of illegal kidney transplants against the gang, which is believed to be operating across 11 hospitals in various states. Sanjay Bhatia, the Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), led the investigation by forming a dedicated team. This team, spearheaded by ACP Raman Lamba and including sub-inspectors Rakesh and Ankit, conducted raids in multiple locations.
During a raid in Noida, the team apprehended Kashyap and seized a collection of fake documents, stamp seals, and files related to patients and donors. Further investigation led to the arrest of Arya and Devender from a luxury hotel in Goa. The probe revealed that some gang members were working as transplant coordinators in well-known hospitals.
The gang's operation spanned hospitals in Delhi, Faridabad, Mohali, Panchkula, Agra, Indore, and Vadodara. They targeted patients with kidney disease and recruited donors from underprivileged backgrounds via social media. Donors were promised between Rs 5-6 lakh per kidney. To bypass India's organ transplant regulations, the gang forged documents to falsely present donors and recipients as close relatives. They also ensured that donors passed the scrutiny of transplant authorization committees by arranging fraudulent medical exams.
The investigation has led to the arrest of five additional suspects: Puneet Kumar, Mohammad Hanif Shaikh, Cheeka Prashanth, Tej Prakash, and Rohit Khanna. Legal action is also underway against five kidney recipients and two donors identified during the probe.
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