An MBA student’s search for a missing friend led to the busting of an inter-State kidney racket active in the Capital.
Jaideep Sharma (24), a final-year student from a Jaipur college, who wants to become a reporter himself, was surfing the Internet to locate the whereabouts of Rajesh, a friend who had expressed his wish to donate kidney to earn some money, when he found a web page calling for kidney donors.
Thanks to his efforts, the police have arrested four persons -- Jayant Sahoo alias Rahul (32), Sulekha Panda (27), Anoj Patra (33) and Birju Paswan (45) -- and are looking for others likely to be involved in the racket.
The story began in September last year, when Jaideep, unable to contact Rajesh, who had left for Delhi to “sell his kidney”, uploaded his personal details on the web page claiming to be an interested donor. He received a call from a man called Imtiaz, who spoke to him a few more times asking for his family details, income and other information to confirm if he was a genuine donor.
Money deal
Jaideep was then put across another man named Arun Das, and finally to one Jayant alias Rahul, who negotiated the financial transaction. “Jaideep demanded more but they settled at ₹4 lakh,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Praveer Ranjan.
Just like his friend, Jaideep was asked to come to Delhi, where he was “counselled” for over 40 days about how his kidney donation would not impact his health, but save a precious life.
Jaideep, in the meantime, contacted a reporter and the police, after which the investigation began.
Jaideep said he stayed in an accommodation in south Delhi’s Hauz Rani where all potential donors are asked to stay. Here, accused Sulekha Panda and Anuj Patra met him. “I had several meetings with Sulekha at different malls where she told me about the procedures involved,” he said.
He questioned her about the legalities involved, as one has to be related by blood to be able to donate a kidney, and she allegedly said: “That will be taken care of.”
Meet the family
Next, Jaideep was introduced to a family from Hyderabad, which allegedly needed the kidney. “Jaideep was made to meet the patient’s son, PSP Krishna Kumar. The man was diabetic and his father was on dialysis for a few years, so they were desperate for the kidney,” said ACP Sanjay Sehrawat, investigating the case.
After this began the process of giving Jaideep a new identity -- PSP Phani Kumar -- so that he could be presented as a family member. He was even given a makeover to pass him off as someone from south India. “He was taken for a haircut worth ₹2,600,” said a senior police officer.
He was made to stay with the family for a few days for people to be believe he was one of them. “My pictures were also morphed into the family pictures,” said Jaideep.
The police said the accused had managed to make fake documents, including Aadhaar card, Election Identity card and passbook of State Bank of India in the name of PSP Phani Kumar.
The operation was to be conducted at Batra Hospital, where a team of doctors interviewed him, a mandatory procedure. “The racketeers had already told him about the questions which were to be asked in the interview, something which suggests there might be some involvement of the hospital,” said Mr Ranjan, adding that it’s under investigation.
However, the hospital issued a statement saying: “There is no involvement of the hospital in any wrongdoing. The hospital has and will fully cooperate with the police and assist in finding out the culprit.”
Dramatic raid
On Thursday, just as Jaideep was being wheeled into the operation theatre, the police raided the hospital and busted the racket. Raids were also conducted at the other locations and the accused were apprehended.
The police said more people seem to be involved in the racket and they too will be arrested soon.
When asked about Jaideep’s friend, the police said they have launched a hunt for him.
