Kidney racketeer arrested

A 32-year-old man allegedly involved in over 30 cases of organ trade was arrested on Friday evening from south Delhi, police said. The accused, identified as Vinod Kumar, was arrested following interrogation of six men.

A 32-year-old man allegedly involved in over 30 cases of organ trade was arrested on Friday evening from south Delhi, police said. The accused, identified as Vinod Kumar, was arrested following interrogation of six men.

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These men had been arrested for their alleged involvement in the blood scam case reported from AIIMS and Safdarjung hospitals three days ago, police said. Kumar was involved in over 30 cases of illegal kidney transplants.

“The role of two other hospitals has come under scanner,” HGS Dhaliwal, DCP (south) said.

“The accused was acting in connivance with the hospital staff to get the illegal kidney transplant done. Recently, he had taken money from at least eight persons.”

Police said the accused reportedly enticed rag pickers, drug addicts and homeless people into selling their kidneys.

Police said the organ trade could not have flourished without help from hospitals and they were investigating the role of doctors and other staff in the scam.

Police said the accused a resident of Uttam Nagar was arrested on Friday evening.

“We have got vital clues from him and he could be a part of a bigger organised racket involved in organ trade,” the officer said.

“He was acting in cahoots with the people involved in blood scam.”

The accused was earlier also arrested in 2004 and 2006 for involvement in similar crimes, police said.

Police said they will register a fresh cases against him and will book him under the Organ Act. “We have seized his mobile phones and are grilling his other contacts as well,” said the officer.