Kanpur: Doctor couple detained as illegal kidney transplant racket busted

Kanpur: In a shocking incident, a major illegal kidney and liver transplant racket has been busted in Kanpur. The joint operation carried out by the crime branch and the health department led to the detention of a doctor couple and a middleman, exposing a network that allegedly exploited vulnerable youth and sold organs for as high as Rs 80 lakh.

According to the news reports, preliminary investigations reveal that the racket was being run from a private hospital in Keshavpuram. Authorities suspect that the doctor couple orchestrated the entire operation, from sourcing vulnerable donors to arranging transplant procedures. The network reportedly extended across multiple cities and involved several accomplices.

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The accused reportedly lured donors with promises of payments ranging from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. On the other side, recipients were charged exorbitant sums, sometimes as high as Rs 80 lakh for a transplant. To evade legal scrutiny, forged documents were created to falsely establish familial relationships between donors and recipients.

Investigators uncovered that specialised doctors from outside Kanpur were brought in to perform the surgeries. Following the procedures, both donors and recipients were moved to different hospitals. Two additional hospitals in the Kalyanpur area have now come under investigation for their alleged role in post-operative care linked to the racket.

As per the news reports by The 420, acting on specific intelligence, joint teams conducted simultaneous raids at three hospitals. During the operation, evidence of suspicious activities was found, leading to the detention of the doctor couple and a middleman.

At the centre of the case is an MBA student originally from Bihar, who was allegedly lured into the scheme through a Telegram group by the mastermind. He was promised Rs 10 lakh in exchange for donating his kidney, but claims he received only Rs 9.5 lakh, despite the organ reportedly being sold for much higher. The payment dispute, coupled with his deteriorating health, eventually brought the matter to the attention of authorities. The victim is currently under medical supervision and police protection.

Investigations are ongoing at the three hospitals, where patient records, surgical details, and other documents are being closely scrutinised. Authorities are also working to determine the total number of illegal transplants conducted as part of the racket.

Speaking to Bhaskar English, CMO Dr. Ramit Rastogi, who was part of the investigation team, said, "Inputs were received regarding illegal kidney transplants in Kalyanpur hospitals. When a joint team of police, vigilance, and doctors raided the hospitals, the kidney transplants were found to be true. The teams are conducting ongoing raids and inquiries."

Officials have issued notices to three hospitals seeking detailed explanations regarding the arrival and treatment of transplant patients. Further action, including possible cancellation of licenses, will be taken based on their responses.

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