Two witnesses identify kidney racket kingpin; five donors turn hostile

Two witnesses today identified Dr Amit Kumar, the kingpin in the kidney racket case, during hearing in a CBI court at Panchkula in Haryana. Five donors however turned hostile during their deposition and refused to accept that they sold their kidneys through the accused.

Two witnesses identified Dr Amit Kumar, the kingpin in the kidney racket case, during hearing in a CBI court at Panchkula in Haryana on Monday.

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Meanwhile, five donors turned hostile during their deposition in the case on Monday. They refused to accept that they sold their kidneys through the accused.

Mayank Maheshwari of Uttar Pradesh said in the court that they bought a kidney for Rs 6 lakh for his sister Ruchi Bala and added that Dr Amit Kumar and lab technician Manoj Kumar were present in hospital in Gurgaon where transplantation took place. His sister had recently died.

Their earlier deal was for Rs 12 lakh but Manoj returned Rs 6 lakh after the condition of her sister started deteriorating soon after transplantation, though she survived at that time.

Another CBI witness Vikas Aggarwal, an advocate from Delhi, told the court that a kidney was bought for his mother-in-law Madhulika for about Rs 8 lakh and also identified Dr Amit who conducted the operation.

The racket had surfaced on January 24, 2008, when UP and Gurgaon police raided a house in Sector 22 in Gurgaon. Many people were lured for donation of their kidneys and were allegedly paid between Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000. The kidneys were then allegedly sold between Rs 8 lakh to Rs 10 lakh each, as per the CBI.

Charges were also framed against Dr Saraj Kumar, lab technician Manoj Kumar, Dr KK Aggarwal, Giyassudin, Mohammad Shahid and nurse Linda under the TOHO Act and Section 120-B.