Kanpur: A major illegal kidney and liver transplant racket has been unearthed in the city, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the healthcare system. A joint operation by the crime branch and the health department on Monday evening led to the busting of the organized network. A doctor couple and a broker have been detained, while both the donor and the recipient have been taken under protection and are currently receiving medical care.
A Network Hidden Within Hospitals
Investigations revealed that the entire operation was being run from a private hospital located in Keshavpuram. The doctor couple is suspected to be the mastermind behind the racket, managing everything from arranging donors to executing the transplant procedures. Authorities believe the network was well-organized, involving multiple individuals operating across different cities.
According to sources, the gang lured donors with payments ranging between ₹8 lakh and ₹10 lakh, while charging recipients as much as ₹80 lakh for kidney or liver transplants. To bypass legal scrutiny, forged documents were prepared to falsely establish a legitimate relationship between the donor and the recipient, which is a mandatory requirement under transplant regulations.
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Donors Recruited, Recipients Charged Heavily
Investigators also found that a team of doctors from outside the city was brought in to perform the surgeries. After the transplant procedures, both the donor and recipient were shifted to other hospitals to avoid suspicion. In this case, two additional hospitals in Kalyanpur have come under the scanner, where patients were reportedly admitted post-surgery.
Acting on specific intelligence, joint teams conducted simultaneous raids at three hospitals. During the operation, evidence of suspicious activities was found, leading to the detention of the doctor couple and a middleman. Their interrogation has revealed crucial details, exposing multiple layers of the racket.
Multi-Hospital Operation and Concealment
According to sources, a recipient from Uttarakhand and a donor have also been taken into protective custody. Preliminary findings indicate that the donor was paid around ₹3.5 lakh through online transfer, while approximately ₹6 lakh was given in cash. The recipient, on the other hand, allegedly paid up to ₹80 lakh for the transplant. Authorities are now examining digital and banking records to trace the money trail.
Officials believe the racket had been operating for a long time and had connections across several states. The network was reportedly under surveillance for some time, and the latest proceeding was carried out after concrete evidence emerged.
Investigation Expands Into Wider Network
Investigations are still underway at all three hospitals, where documents, patient records, and surgical details are being thoroughly examined. Authorities are also trying to determine how many such illegal transplants have been conducted so far and identify other individuals involved in the operation.
