Kidney transplant racket: Dera Bassi Hospital director booked

Mohali: Following the Dera Bassi Kidney transplant racket, which was busted at a private hospital in the Mohali district of Punjab, the police have now booked the clinical director of the hospital after two persons were booked earlier in connection with the case.

Investigating the case, the police found the clinical director of the Indus International Hospital, Dera Bassi, to be the chairperson of the transplant authorisation board.

Although the police have presented substantial evidence about his alleged involvement in the racket, the director and the hospital management have denied the accusations. The director is expected to be in police custody soon, HT reports.

Also read- Will Take Action Against Guilty Doctors: Punjab Medical Council Takes Suo Motu Cognisance Of Dera Bassi Kidney Racket

Dera Bassi assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Darpan Ahluwalia on Tuesday said, “We have named hospital director Dr SS Bedi in the case. Teams have been dispatched to arrest him. The Punjab Medical Council (PMC) has been informed about the action.”

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that the Punjab Medical Council (PMC), after taking suo motu cognisance of the racket, said it would take appropriate action against the guilty doctors.

Previously, two people, including the transplant coordinator of the private hospital, were booked by Dera Bassi police after almost 35 illegal kidney transplant incidents came to light which had been conducted over the last two years.

There were 11 such illegal transplant operations in 2021, 17 in 2022, and another seven up through March 7 of the current year. The matter came to light after one of the kidney donors alleged that the coordinator of the hospital promised him Rs 10 Lakh in exchange for his kidney. The hospital staff allegedly prepared fake documents and showed him as the son of the patient to enable him for a kidney donation.

The managing director of the hospital claimed that although some hospital staff's role in the whole illegal transplantation had come to light, the facility or the authorities did not know about any such illegal activity. He further stated that they are cooperating with the police in the investigation process.

Accordingly, a case under Sections 419 (cheating by personation), 465 (forgery), 467(forgery of valuable security, will, etc), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged 1[document or electronic record]) and 120 (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, and Sections 19 and 20 of the Transplantation of Human Organ Act (THOA), was registered on March 18.

Even though three persons have been booked so far in connection with the racket, three key conspirators of the racket are still eluding arrest. 

Talking about this, Mohali SSP Dr Sandeep Garg said, “We are hoping that their arrest will provide further leads to the police in understanding the network of the racket and other states in which it is being operated."

Also read- Kidney Transplant Racket: Dera Bassi Hospital Under Scanner, 2 Arrested