Nagpur: ‘Kidney racket’ busted in Akola, two arrested

Two people have been arrested and five victims identified in connection with a suspected international kidney racket at Akola. Of the five victims, kidneys of at least two were removed in Sri Lanka while those of the others were removed in India, police said. All the five victims are daily-wage earners.

The suspected racket came to light when one Santosh Gawli lodged a police complaint, alleging his kidney was removed in Sri Lanka and Devendra Shirsat, one of those arrested, gave him Rs 3 lakh against the promised sum of Rs 4 lakh. As per his complaint, Gawli had agreed to give away his kidney to repay a debt of Rs 20,000 that he took from one Anand Jadhav. Jadhav has been arrested for facilitating Gawli’s meeting with Shirsat.

“Shirsat revealed names of three more victims. The fifth victim approached us with a second complaint,” Gondia SP Chandrakishore Mina said.

Asked if the law governing kidney transplant in India would recognise stealthy wilful donations as an offence, Mina said, “Indian kidney donation laws are very strict and do not allow any transaction of money.”