Kanpur Kidney Racket Probe Uncovers Extensive Network Across Multiple Cities and Nepal
A major investigation into the illicit kidney trade in Kanpur has exposed a sprawling and sophisticated network that extends across several major Indian cities and into Nepal, revealing deep-rooted criminal operations in the healthcare sector.
Widespread Network and Hospital Involvement
The probe has identified a vast network operating in Lucknow, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Nepal, with authorities focusing on seven to eight hospitals in Kanpur alone suspected of involvement in illegal organ transplants. This highlights the alarming scale of the racket, which has evaded detection until now.
Arrests and Interrogation Revelations
Two arrested OT technicians, Kuldeep Singh Raghav and Rajesh Kumar, provided critical information during police interrogation. They disclosed the involvement of a city nursing home in the racket, though they could not specify its exact location due to darkness, only noting it is near a railway crossing. They confirmed that a kidney transplant had recently taken place there.
DCP West SM Qasim Abidi stated that the duo reported two teams of doctors arrived late on a Sunday to perform twin transplants but left after completing only one. They also gave details about two donors from Jharkhand and Nepal, prompting police teams to search for these individuals.
Recent Arrests and Ongoing Investigations
Abidi revealed that eight individuals were recently arrested in connection with the illegal kidney trade in private hospitals. As the investigation progressed, other names emerged, leading to raids and further arrests. Police are closing in on Dr. Rohit from Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, and expect an arrest soon. A raid was also conducted at the residence of Dr. Ali based on leads; initial findings suggest Dr. Ali worked as a technician rather than a doctor, but this requires confirmation. Clear facts are anticipated post-arrest and questioning.
Specific Transplant Incident at Ahuja Hospital
Investigators detailed that two kidney transplants were scheduled at Ahuja Hospital in Keshavpuram on a particular night, with Dr. Ali performing the surgery and Dr. Rohit administering anesthesia. However, the team became aware of police presence and fled after completing only one transplant. Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal noted that significant information has been obtained regarding kidney buying, selling, and illegal transplants in city hospitals.
Background of Arrested Technicians
Police provided background on the arrested individuals: Kuldeep from Pilkhuwa, Hapur, had been an OT technician at Shanti Gopal Hospital in Ghaziabad since 2012, earning a salary of Rs 42,000. Rajesh from Ghaziabad served as an OT manager at Sarvodaya Hospital in Noida with earnings of Rs 70,000.
Formation of the Racket
About a year and a half ago, Rajesh and Kuldeep met 35-year-old Dr. Rohit at a seminar in Vaishali, Ghaziabad. They began conversing and subsequently became involved in the kidney racket. Dr. Rohit, who ran the operation, provided Rs 40,000-40,000 and flight tickets for each transplant to these individuals. On the day of the transplant, eight people arrived at Ahuja Hospital in Keshavpuram—three from Ghaziabad and five from Lucknow. Teams have been deployed to search for the accused from Lucknow, who were reportedly preparing to flee abroad.
Illegal Transplant at Ahuja Hospital
Ahuja Hospital in Keshavpuram, Rawatpur, was the site of an illegal kidney transplant on a Sunday night, where a Muzaffarnagar resident received a kidney from an MBBS student from Begusarai, Bihar. Dr. Rohit from Lucknow led the transplant team, which included seven others. Police received a tip-off about the illegal transplant, triggering a major investigation.
Further Arrests and Gang Operations
A member associated with the racket tipped off police about the illegal transplant the same night. Following the transplant on Monday, police arrested Ahuja Hospital operator Dr. Surjit Singh Ahuja, his wife and IMA Kanpur vice-president Dr. Preeti Ahuja, and brokers Shivam Agrawal, Ram Prakash, Rajesh, and Narendra Singh.
Police are currently searching for Dr. Rohit, Dr. Afzal from Meerut, Dr. Anurag alias Amit, and Dr. Vaibhav in connection with the illegal kidney transplant racket. The gang allegedly used a Telegram group called "Kidney Donor" to facilitate their business. DCP West SM Kasim Abidi disclosed that a team of eight people, including Dr. Rohit, arrived in Kanpur by flight and reached Ahuja Hospital in two cars to perform the transplant.
