Kanpur | A major breakthrough has been reported in the illegal kidney transplant network case after Delhi-based OT manager Mudassir Ali Siddiqui, also known as Dr. Ali, surrendered before a court and was sent to judicial custody. The accused, who had been evading arrest for a long time, is now under investigation for allegedly playing a central role in more than 30 illegal kidney transplant procedures.
According to investigating agencies, the entire operation was conducted through rented operation theatres where serious surgical procedures were carried out without valid permissions or qualified surgeons. Police claim that the accused had received training in Delhi, after which he became actively involved in the illegal network. While he is not a certified surgeon, his role inside the operation theatre is considered highly significant in executing the procedures.
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The case came to light after a suspicious kidney transplant attempt was reported at a hospital in Rawatpur, Kanpur. During the investigation, police uncovered details of patients and donors admitted in different hospitals, which gradually exposed the larger structure of the network. So far, ten individuals have already been arrested and sent to jail, while Siddiqui is the 11th accused in the case.
Police sources indicate that the syndicate operated in a highly organized manner. Patients and donors were reportedly brought in from different states and admitted to multiple hospitals to carry out transplant procedures while avoiding detection. There are also allegations of hospital staff and intermediaries being involved in concealing identities and bypassing official medical records.
Investigators further revealed that the accused never travelled alone to Kanpur. He was always accompanied by a doctor and two assistants. After each procedure, the team would quickly move to another city to avoid leaving any traceable record. Officials suspect that several high-profile individuals may also be connected to the network, and their roles are currently under scrutiny.
According to the defence counsel, a surrender application was filed in court on April 13, after which the court sought a status report from investigators. The report was submitted on April 16, leading to the accused voluntarily surrendering before the court. He has now been placed in judicial custody.
Notably, during the surrender process, the accused attempted to conceal his identity by wearing casual clothing, a cap, and a mask while avoiding media interaction. Security personnel immediately took him into custody and shifted him to jail.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that multiple illegal transplants were carried out between January and March, with some patients reportedly left in critical condition. An OT manager from a hospital in Ghaziabad has also stated that several similar procedures were conducted there as part of the same network.
Police are now preparing to seek custody remand of the accused in order to uncover the full extent of the network, financial transactions, and other individuals involved. Officials believe the case is not limited to a single operator but is part of a larger interstate organ trafficking syndicate spanning multiple cities.
As the investigation progresses, more layers of the illegal transplant network are being uncovered, raising serious concerns about hospital oversight, regulatory failures, and the role of healthcare institutions in preventing such crimes.
