Mohali Kidney Transplant Probe: SIT suspects transplant was done outside hospital

Mohali: The investigation into an alleged kidney transplant racket in Mohali has taken a new turn, with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) now suspecting that the transplant may not have been performed at the Kharar-based hospital initially under scrutiny. 

The SIT, headed by Superintendent of Police Manpreet Singh, is now examining whether the procedure was carried out at another hospital or an external operation theatre facility with the involvement of a qualified transplant surgeon. Investigators are also exploring the possibility that, if the transplant did occur at the Kharar hospital, it may have been conducted with the help of an external specialist.

Also Read:Kanpur illegal Kidney transplant racket spans 9 hospitals across 4 cities

Officials noted that while the hospital has an ICU facility, its capability and compliance with post- and pre-transplant care standards remain under scrutiny.

The inquiry began after Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Senior Medical Officer (SMO) of SDH Kharar, submitted a written complaint to authorities following a surprise inspection directed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Kharar, which reportedly uncovered serious irregularities in patient care and hospital operations.

During the inspection, medical authorities discovered two individuals—an alleged donor and an alleged recipient—in the Intensive Care Unit without professional medical supervision.

Officials described the situation as highly irregular, prompting immediate concern over possible violations of transplant protocols.

A police team led by ASI Hardeep Singh later reached the hospital after intercepting a written request for action near Desumajra Road. Upon arrival, officers questioned two individuals who were found attending to the patients.

According to police sources, both individuals were unable to provide valid identification or a satisfactory explanation for their presence at the facility, leading investigators to suspect possible involvement in unauthorized medical activity.

A case was formally registered under Sections 19 and 20 of the Transplantation of Human Organ Act, 1994, which penalise the unauthorised removal of organs and commercial transactions involving human tissue, reports Hindustan Times.

The hospital owner has been named as the primary accused in the case. She has not yet been apprehended, and multiple search operations conducted at suspected locations have so far been unsuccessful.

Authorities have confirmed that the hospital in question did not possess mandatory permissions required under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, which strictly regulates kidney transplants in India. The absence of statutory approval has deepened concerns about how such a high-risk and heavily regulated procedure was allegedly attempted or represented.

Speaking to TOI, the SP said, "The SIT is also examining whether the hospital had constituted the legally required evaluation mechanism, including a panel of transplant experts, a local social worker, and a gazetted officer, before conducting the kidney transplant. This panel is mandated to verify the legitimacy of donor-recipient relationships and scrutinise financial transactions to rule out any commercial dealings, particularly critical in cases involving non-related donors.”

Preliminary findings suggest that the alleged donor is a Nepali national, while the recipient is from Rajasthan—placing the case in the “non-relative donor” category, which requires stricter scrutiny and approval from district or state-level authorisation committees. Investigators are also seeking records from the civil surgeon’s office to verify whether any formal application or approval process was ever initiated.

Adding to the seriousness of the case, the SIT is also examining why the accused doctor’s medical licence was not revoked despite prior cases registered against her under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act in 2018 and 2023.

Authorities reiterated that no organ transplant can be performed without prior approval from the designated authorization committee, and that all procedures must be routed through registered hospitals. Foreign donor cases require additional verification, including embassy clearance, under national transplant guidelines.

Meanwhile, the investigation has also uncovered that the hospital in Kharar lacked valid permission to operate as a fully compliant medical facility. As per TOI reports, Civil surgeon Dr Sangeeta Jain said, "We had allowed a licence under the PNDT Act in her mother's name and land in the name of the accused doctor, but later, when teams raided in 2023, an ultrasound machine was sealed, and her mother's hospital operation licence under the PNDT Act was terminated. As the land given for establishing a hospital remained in the name of the doctor and another person who has now been booked, but we do not know whether she was conducting any surgeries, or if she had engaged any other specialists to do so. This will only be ascertained once she is arrested."

The hospital premises have now been sealed, and officials have assured that no further activity is taking place at the site. Once the SIT completes its investigation, a detailed report will also be forwarded to the Punjab Medical Council and the Indian Medical Association for further action regarding alleged illegal medical practices.

The investigation is ongoing, with officials not ruling out the possibility of a wider interstate or cross-border network being involved in the racket.

Also Read:Kanpur illegal Kidney transplant racket spans 9 hospitals across 4 cities