Notices to docs in connection with kidney transplant case

Apparently both the doctors are on a holiday and out of the city,8221; Joint Commissioner of Police Crime Rakesh Maria said.

Nephrologist Rashika Shirsat and urologist Sagde, accused of conducting a transplant without following procedures laid under the Human Organ Transplantation Act HOTA 1995, were asked to be present before the crime branch this afternoon.

The case dates back to 2001 when the victim, Deepak Suryavanshi, was assured a sum of Rs 2.5 lakh and a job after transplantation of his kidney by his employer Ashok Desai. The kidney was to be given to Desai8217;s friend Thakur and Desai gave Suryawanshi only Rs 50,000 after the kidney transplantation.

Suryawanshi was shown as Thakur8217;s son as the HOTA says that kidneys can only be transplanted to blood-relatives.

Police are investigating if the two doctors had prior knowledge of the illegal transplant.

In his statement, Suryawanshi has said that inside the operation theatre, he was urged by Desai to identify himself as Laldas Thakur, said a senior officer, adding that this was enough indication for a doctor to understand that something was fishy.