Delhi Police crack kidney sale racket, 15 arrested

Delhi Police ’s Crime Branch has uncovered a racket spanning five states that enticed Bangladeshi nationals into selling their kidneys, which were then sold at significantly higher prices. Fifteen individuals, including the kingpin, have been arrested following raids in Delhi NCR, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.

During the raids, authorities seized multiple cell phones, laptops, SIM cards, cash, and incriminating documents. The investigation revealed that the gang convinced impoverished Bangladeshi nationals to sell their kidneys for 4-5 lakhs, sometimes offering jobs as an incentive.

They then forged documents to falsely indicate a relationship between the organ sellers and the recipients. The kidneys were subsequently sold for between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 30 lakh.

Dr Vijaya Kumari, a consultant surgeon accused of performing 15 to 16 illegal surgeries at a Noida hospital, is among those arrested. The operation came to light after police received a tip-off about suspicious activities involving Bangladeshi nationals, leading to a raid in Delhi’s Jasola Vihar where four suspects—Russell, Rokon, Sumon Miyan, and Ratesh Pal—were detained.

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The investigation disclosed that Dr Kumari received approximately Rs 2 lakh for each transplant. Kidney transplants are intricate procedures usually performed on patients with end-stage kidney disease. While kidneys can be donated by close relatives, donations from non-relatives require authorisation from a committee. Due to the high demand for transplants compared to available donors, illegal schemes often exploit this disparity. (With inputs from PTI)