A high-level inquiry committee formed by the state government to investigate the alleged pan-India kidney racket, which has named a Trichy-based doctor as a prime suspect, concluded its three-day probe on Wednesday. The committee is now set to submit its preliminary findings to the government this Friday, according to multiple official sources.
Inquiry Challenges Absconding Narrative
Contrary to claims made by the Maharashtra Special Investigation Team (SIT) that the accused doctor, Dr G Rajarathinam, was absconding, the state inquiry team successfully conducted a detailed examination with him. Sources from the Directorate of Medical Services (DMS) and the health department revealed that the inquiry session was held at STAR KIMS Hospital in Trichy and was videographed for record.
"The claim by Maharashtra police that the doctor is on the run does not appear to be true, as we were able to conduct a full-fledged inquiry with him," a source stated. However, officials did note that certain deviations were observed in the documents seized during the probe, which will require further investigation in the coming days.
Three-Day Probe and Document Collection
The inquiry team, led by Dr A Pragalathan, ADMS (Inspection), began its work on Monday. Over the course of three days in Trichy, the investigators collected crucial documents, including:
- Patient case sheets
- Donor registries
- Transplant procedure records
Dr Pragalathan confirmed to the media that a preliminary report would be submitted to the DMS office on Friday, February 9th. A final, comprehensive report is expected to follow approximately a week later, after a thorough analysis of all the gathered evidence.
Background and Legal Charges
The state government's inquiry was initiated following an incident in late December when Maharashtra police attempted to arrest Dr Rajarathinam in Trichy. They were directed to follow proper legal channels and subsequently left. The Maharashtra police have booked the doctor, along with another doctor from Delhi, as prime accused under Sections 18 and 19 of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA). Having been unable to locate him at the time, they had concluded he was absconding.
The completion of this state-level inquiry marks a significant step in unraveling the complexities of the alleged interstate organ trafficking network, with the findings poised to influence the ongoing multi-state investigation.
