Last week, Delhi Police apprehended Dr. Vijaya Kumari, a 50-year-old doctor from Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi, for her alleged involvement in a cross-border organ transplantation racket spanning Bangladesh and India. This arrest has unveiled a complex network involving medical professionals, middlemen, and fake documentation, raising serious concerns about the integrity of organ transplantation practices in the region.
At Yatharth Hospital in Noida, Dr. Vijaya Kumari, who is currently suspended, is alleged to have carried out between 15–16 illicit transplants between 2021 and 2023. A network of intermediaries who enticed patients from Bangladesh to India for organ transplantation made these transplants possible. In addition to Dr. Kumari, three other citizens of Bangladesh were detained in relation to the scheme last month.As required by Indian law, the racket comprised fabricating paperwork that appeared to have been issued by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi in order to falsely establish a tie between the donor and receiver. These records were essential for avoiding judicial scrutiny and guaranteeing that the transplants could take place. These fake documents have reportedly been confiscated as part of the inquiry, according to sources.
The racket involved creating fake documents purportedly issued by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi to falsely establish a relationship between the donor and recipient, as required by Indian law. These documents were crucial for bypassing legal scrutiny and ensuring the transplants could proceed. Sources indicate that these forged documents have been seized as part of the investigation.
Senior consultant and kidney transplant surgeon Dr. Kumari has been employed by Indraprastha Apollo Hospital for almost 15 years, first as a young physician and then on a fee-for-service basis, not as a hospital employee. She worked as a visiting consultant at Yatharth Hospital, where she performed transplants on patients who she personally brought in. The Yatharth Hospital’s Additional Medical Superintendent, Sunil Baliyan, claims that Dr. Kumari has only done one surgery in the previous three months and has not been given any Yatharth patients.
Dr. Kumari was suspended by Indraprastha Apollo Hospital after his arrest, and the hospital assisted the Crime Branch by supplying the data they needed to conduct the inquiry. A representative for IAH highlighted that the inquiry concerns protocols implemented at other medical facilities and is not directly linked to measures implemented at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.People like Rasel, Mohammed Sumon Miyan, Ifti from Bangladesh, and Ratish Pal from Tripura were part of the network and they invited prospective contributors from Bangladesh to Delhi. While recipients paid Rs 25-30 lakh for the transplant, these donors received payment of between Rs 4-5 lakh for their kidneys. About three months ago, Delhi Police stepped up their probe into the kidney racket after Rajasthan police busted a similar one. It was discovered that Dr. Kumari was paid between Rs. 2-3 lakh for every transplant that she performed.
Al Shifa, a medical tourism company, oversaw the arrangement of the treatment, medical testing, and stay of the donors and receivers. The victim’s statement is now admissible in court as evidence since it was obtained in accordance with Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Further evidence against the accused has been gathered by police from Yatharth Hospital’s medical records, which contained the falsified documents from the Bangladesh High Commission.
The police investigation has now extended to an organized crime syndicate, with Vikram, an assistant to Dr. Kumari, also being arrested. This case highlights the deep-rooted corruption and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals in the illegal organ trade. Authorities are focused on unraveling the full extent of the network and bringing all involved parties to justice.
SOURCE:
THE INDIAN EXPRESS
