Accused arranged three kidney transplants

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 18

Interrogation of Shweta, a resident of Dholewal, who, along with her accomplices, allegedly duped an Abohar-based kidney patient of Rs 15 lakh on the pretext of arranging a kidney transplant for him, may lead to unearthing of a kidney transplant racket.

The woman was arrested by the city police on June 15 on a complaint of Manish Kumar (27). She had introduced herself to Manish as a doctor while in reality, she is a midwife.

Police sources said the woman had admitted that she arranged three kidney transplants and the police were trying to get the details of these cases.

“The woman has admitted that she had referred three kidney patients to hospitals of the city and other places. The police are carrying out a thorough probe as to if these three kidney transplants were done as per the legal norms, and in which capacity the woman, who is a midwife, referred the kidney patients to hospitals,” said a police official.

Additional DCP Surendra Lamba, who is investigating the case, though did not divulge much details of the ongoing probe, yet he said the case was at the preliminary stage and it was too early to comment on the extent of the racket the woman was running. “We are corroborating evidences to expose the entire racket. If required, the record of kidney transplants can also be sought from hospitals,” said Lamba.

He said the police would seek further police remand of the woman to expose her links. Manish’s kidney got damaged just one month after his marriage in 2017. He has to undergo dialysis every 48 hours.