In a shocking case of organ trafficking, the Chandrapur police in Maharashtra have arrested a man who posed as a doctor and allegedly facilitated the illegal sale of a farmer's kidney in Cambodia. The arrest sheds light on a disturbing network exploiting financial distress.
The Farmer's Desperate Search Leads to a Racket
The case came to light based on a written complaint filed by Roshan Shivdas Kule, a farmer from the region. Facing severe financial difficulties and loans, Kule searched online for information on selling a kidney. His search led him to contact a person identifying himself as Dr. Krishna, who claimed to be based in Chennai.
This contact set in motion a plan that ultimately saw the farmer travelling to Cambodia, where his kidney was illegally removed and sold. Acting on the complaint, the police registered an FIR invoking Sections 18 and 19 of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994.
Arrest of the Fake Doctor and His Own Past
On Tuesday, December 24, 2025, the police arrested the accused from Solapur. He was identified as Krishna Mallesham, 35. Investigations revealed that Mallesham is not a medical professional but an engineering graduate. Police believe a doctor based in Cambodia used him as a facilitating agent for the illicit trade.
During interrogation, a startling personal detail emerged: Krishna Mallesham himself had donated a kidney in 2018 after suffering business losses. He told investigators that financial hardship pushed him to seek donors through Facebook, where he shared his details in a group before travelling to Cambodia for the procedure. The transplant was carried out at the Preah Ket Mealea Hospital, a military facility in Phnom Penh.
Wider Network and Ongoing Probe
The police suspect that Krishna Mallesham's role was not limited to this single case. He is believed to have helped at least 12 people travel to Cambodia to sell their kidneys. While he allegedly earned commissions of up to Rs 1 lakh per case, he has not yet disclosed the identities of the other alleged victims to the authorities.
Addressing the media, Chandrapur Superintendent of Police Mummaka Sudarshan stated that a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the case deeply. The SP credited the cyber cell and the local crime branch for their crucial role in tracking the accused. Technical analysis of the victim's mobile phone was key in locating and arresting Krishna Mallesham.
The case highlights the grim reality of organ trafficking preying on India's economically vulnerable and underscores the need for stringent monitoring of online spaces where such illegal activities are orchestrated.
