It is suspected that the kingpin operated the racket remotely from Sri Lanka. The alleged organ trafficking operation was exposed at Alakananda Hospital in Saroornagar’s Doctors Colony in Hyderabad.
Published Jan 25, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 25, 2025 | 7:00 AM
Telangana Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha on Friday, 24 January, announced a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the alleged kidney racket busted in Hyderabad.
An alleged organ trafficking operation was exposed at Alakananda Hospital in Saroornagar’s Doctors Colony in Hyderabad.
“The government is taking this matter very seriously. We want a full investigation to be conducted and everyone involved in this racket to be arrested,” the minister stated.
He emphasised the need for strictly punishing the guilty, saying such actions would deter others from engaging in similar crimes.
On Tuesday, 21 January, the Rachakonda police and the Health Department raided Alakananda Hospital in Saroornagar based on specific intelligence.
The hospital, which lacked the requisite government permissions for organ transplant procedures, was allegedly being used as a hub for illegal kidney trade. During the raid, two kidney donors and two recipients from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were found on its premises.
Dr. Venkateshwar Rao, the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) of Rangareddy district, explained, “All the doctors escaped from the place. One Sumanth, who is a manager, was taken into custody. The patients are from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. On examination, we found there was some kidney transplantation done on two patients.”
Authorities revealed that the donors, identified as Nasreen Banu, 35, and Firdosh Begum, 40, were lured by mediators with promises of substantial financial compensation,
The recipients, Rajashekhar, 68, and Kripalatha, 45, were in critical condition following the unauthorised transplants. All four were transferred to Gandhi Hospital for further medical care.
Preliminary investigations indicated that an organised gang facilitated the illegal kidney trade.
Mediators targeted economically disadvantaged individuals, particularly widows and women from rural areas, promising them financial rewards for their organs.
“The recipients, often affluent individuals, were given options to undergo transplants in Hyderabad, Bengal, Chennai, or even Sri Lanka,” the DMHO said.
The surgeries were performed by doctors who exploited regulatory loopholes and operated covertly. Each organ receiver had paid a staggering ₹50 lakh to brokers. The donors, promised ₹4 lakh each, were ultimately left without compensation.
“By the time we reached the private hospital in Saroornagar, the transplant was done, and the doctors who performed the surgeries had already left,” an official disclosed.
The donors and recipients were brought to Hyderabad about 10 days ahead of the surgery for necessary tests.
The health minister ordered the formation of a three-member committee comprising senior medical experts to probe the case further.
The Telangana Medical Council (TGMC) suo motu announced plans to conduct statewide inspections to uncover other potential illegal operations.
Vice-Chairman Dr. Srinivas Gundagani acknowledged gaps in regulatory oversight and assured stricter monitoring.
Alakananda Hospital has been sealed, and its licence might be revoked. Charges under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act and the BNS Act have been filed against the hospital management and its staff.
Police are currently investigating financial transactions linked to the illegal transplants and tracing the backgrounds of all intermediaries involved.
Officials discovered that mediators operated in a ‘cut-off’ mode, where each member of the gang was assigned specific tasks, ensuring minimal interaction and knowledge about others involved in the racket.
From lab technicians collecting samples to nursing staff assisting surgeries, every participant was kept in the dark about the broader operation.
Investigators expressed suspicion the racket’s kingpin, who could be based in Sri Lanka, orchestrated the entire operation remotely. Evidence from call data records suggests connections to other cities, including Chennai, Bengaluru, and Visakhapatnam.
Rachakonda police have formed six special teams to follow different leads and have already apprehended two individuals linked to the crime. Their confessions are expected to provide critical information for unraveling the network.
“Unless we catch the kingpin, we would not be able to explain how it started and to what extent its tentacles have spread,” stated a senior police official.
Health Minister Narasimha condemned the incident, labeling it a grave violation of medical ethics. He stressed the importance of rigorous enforcement of the Clinical Establishments Act to prevent such incidents in the future.
“Illegal activities like these, tarnish the sanctity of the medical profession,” he stated, calling for intensified inspections of private hospitals.
Dr. Nagendra, chief of the investigation committee, highlighted the systemic exploitation of economically disadvantaged individuals. “The racket targeted vulnerable populations, using deceit and false promises of monetary gain,” he remarked.
The Telangana government is considering reaching out to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for additional information, as the committee’s initial findings suggest links to ongoing illegal organ transplantation activities in these states.
Dr. Nagendra’s team has been tasked with submitting a detailed report on the racket’s operations and its perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the condition of the donors and recipients remained stable, according to Gandhi Hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr. Ch. Rajkumari.
“Our nephrology and urology departments are closely monitoring their recovery,” she said. Both donors and recipients are being housed in separate high-security wards for their safety.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
