Nepal police confirm kingpin's arrest

Nepal police on Friday officially confirmed the arrest of kidney smuggler Amit Kumar, and paraded "Dr Horror" before the media.

The kingpin of the multi-crore kidney smuggling network was arrested on Thursday evening from a wildlife resort at Sauraha in Nepal's Chitwan district.

"It took us little more time to officially announce his (Amit Kumar's) arrest in Nepal as we had to follow the procedures for pronouncement of verification," HB Gurung, the commissioner of Kathmandu Metropolitan Police told a crowded press conference.

The Nepal police made a power-point presentation on the sequence of events, which led to Amit Kumar's arrest. "This is a great achievement," Gurung said while lauding his team of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Crime Division.

The kidney smuggler would be produced before a court in Kathmandu on Sunday and would be initially charged under Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, Nepal police officials said.

Amit Kumar's production in the court was delayed by two days as Friday is a holiday for Loshar (Tibetan New Year) and Saturday is the weekly holiday of all government offices.

"We have seized Rs (Nepali) 1.4 crore from his possession, so he would be tried under FERA," Upendra Kanta Aryal, SSP of the Crime Division said, adding that his involvement in the kidney racket in Nepal is now under investigation.

If proved guilty in the case, Amit Kumar would be be charged under the Transplantation of Human Organ Act, police officials said.

As of now, the doctor would be kept under police custody for interrogation, the police commissioner said, adding that a thorough questioning of the Gurgaon-based doctor is the need of the hour.

Since on the Indian government's request the Interpol had issued a 'red corner notice' against Amit Kumar, the Nepal police would also be following the procedures for probable deportation of the accused to India.

The Nepal police officials also claimed that they were in touch with New Delhi through the Embassy of India in Nepal. "He can be deported to India only after serving the punishment in Nepal," Aryal claimed.

Nepal police has launched a massive search operation across the country to nab the seven close associates of Amit Kumar in Nepal. "We are hopeful that all of them would be arrested soon," Aryal said.

"The case would be much more clear after the arrest of the associates," Aryal said, adding that a special operation team of Crime Division under the leadership of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sher Bahadur Basnet is busy chasing the criminals.

Meanwhile, the kidney kingpin has told journalists during his parade before the media that he did nothing wrong, say sources.

He claimed that the court would clear all charges against him. "I don't have any links with the underworld," he maintained, adding that his brother is not Jeevan Kumar and is not in Nepal.

"I will speak to the global media the day I am released," he said, adding that he was not running away from the law.