The Maharashtra Police have made a significant breakthrough in exposing a sprawling, pan-India illegal kidney transplant network with international connections to Cambodia. The racket, which allegedly operated out of a hospital in Tamil Nadu, came to light during an investigation into a money-lending case in Chandrapur.
From Dairy Farmer's Plight to a National Scandal
The investigation was triggered by a complaint from Roshan Kule, a dairy farmer from Chandrapur. Kule alleged that he was coerced into selling his kidney in Cambodia to escape the clutches of loan sharks. This single complaint opened a Pandora's box, revealing a highly organized syndicate involved in illegal organ trade.
Police authorities, led by Mummaka Sudarshan, Superintendent of Police (SP) for Chandrapur, stated that the probe quickly established that the illegal transplants were not confined to Cambodia but were also being conducted within India. "We have established a clear link between the donor, hospital, doctors and agents involved," SP Sudarshan confirmed.
Key Players and the Modus Operandi
The police have identified two doctors as central figures in this network. They are Dr Ravinder Pal Singh from New Delhi and Dr Rajaratnam Govindswamy, the managing director of Star Kims Hospital in Trichy, Tamil Nadu. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) and Local Crime Branch personnel were dispatched to detain both doctors after their names surfaced.
Earlier, the police had arrested the main accused, Ramkrishna Sanchu alias Dr Krishna (who is not a qualified doctor), and his associate Himanshu Bharadwaj. Interrogations revealed a tragic pattern: both Krishna and Bharadwaj were themselves kidney donors who had sold their organs due to severe financial distress. Bharadwaj allegedly connected with Krishna via social media and was later taken to Star Kims Hospital for the procedure.
The financial exploitation was staggering. According to the police, recipients were charged an exorbitant sum of between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 80 lakh for a kidney transplant. In stark contrast, the donors, often vulnerable individuals in financial trouble, received a paltry Rs 5 to 8 lakh.
The police breakdown of the illicit earnings is revealing: approximately Rs 10 lakh was allegedly taken by Dr Ravinder Pal Singh, another Rs 20 lakh was charged by the hospital for the surgery, and the accused 'Dr' Krishna pocketed the remaining massive sum.
Investigation Expands, International Angle Clarified
SP Sudarshan clarified that the investigation suggests Cambodia was not independently running a kidney racket. Instead, the probe has exposed the deep involvement of Indian doctors, hospitals, and agents who facilitated the illegal transplants, sometimes using Cambodia as a destination. "Further connections may emerge as the investigation progresses," he added.
The SIT, led by Additional SP Ishwar Katkade, is actively pursuing the case. Statements from several individuals who allegedly accompanied victims are yet to be recorded. The police have also indicated that they will seek assistance from state and central agencies if more links are uncovered.
This case highlights a brutal black market where human organs are commodified, preying on the desperation of both the financially vulnerable and the critically ill. The exposure of a reputed hospital and qualified doctors in the scandal raises serious questions about medical ethics and regulatory oversight in the organ transplant ecosystem in India.
