A kidney racket has been uncovered by a special investigation team (SIT) in India. The touts behind the racket were found to be contacting potential donors through social media, offering them quick money for their kidneys.
The SIT also found that the accused and the touts were working together to find donors, with one fake donor being rejected due to a medical condition, and another being rescued before donating their kidney.
The investigation began after the role of Indus Hospital’s management came into question, and Dr. R S Bedi of the hospital was questioned by the SIT. The accused would either contact donors through Facebook or place advertisements in newspapers to find potential donors. The cases that have been uncovered so far are all from Haryana.
One victim of the racket, Kapil, had his kidney transplanted to Satish Tayal by preparing fake documents. Kapil alleges that he was threatened by Abhishek, the co-ordinator of Indus Hospital when he asked for the promised payment of Rs 10 lakh (USD 13,500) before the transplant. Kapil’s family was unaware that he had given his kidney for money.
Abhishek had recently purchased a new car and a house in a posh society in Dera Bassi, raising suspicions about the source of his income. Police are investigating how he could afford these purchases on a monthly salary of around Rs 45,000 ($USD 600.
The Mohali Deputy Commissioner (DC) Aashika Jain will also conduct an inquiry into the racket.
