Delhi Kidney Racket: Another Apollo Doctor’s Secretary Detained

Delhi Police had earlier arrested three kidney donors, including two women, in its ongoing probe.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi. (Photo Courtesy: ApolloHospDelhi.com)

The personal secretary of another Apollo Hospital doctor has been detained in the kidney racket linked to the Delhi hospital, even as police came across five fresh cases of kidney transplant carried out by the racket in the hospital.

A total of 12 arrests have been made so far.

One suspect has been detained for questioning and five more cases of transplant carried out by the group in the same hospital have emerged, taking the total to 10. More arrests are likely.

<b>R P Upadhyay Joint Commissioner of Police (Southeast) </b>

Earlier, Indraprastha Apollo hospital constituted a three-member inquiry committee following the arrest of T Rajkumar Rao, the kingpin of the kidney racket, and three others on 7 June.

Rao has so far named over 30 people, including senior officials in the hospital, in connection with his racket which was active across several states.

The gang is suspected to be involved in nearly 20 kidney transplants in Delhi alone, a senior police official said.

The roles of three senior doctors in Apollo Hospital are under scanner now in the case, in which 10 persons – including two personal assistants of a nephrologist, several middlemen and donors, and the kingpin – have been arrested.

The three-member committee will study the existing system for granting approvals for organ transplants in the hospital. The hospital has invited former chief justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court and eminent jurist Justice Mukul Mudgal to head the committee.

Others joining him are forensic expert NC Sood, along with an eminent medical professional.

The police also said that all 10 doctors in Apollo Hospital’s internal assessment committee for transplant surgeries would be quizzed.

Rao was arrested in West Bengal. He is believed to be associated with similar rackets in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

The police busted the kidney racket on 2 June with the arrest of two Indraprastha Apollo hospital employees and three touts, on the charge of persuading economically needy people to sell their kidneys.

The police had said that Shailesh Saxena, 31, and Aditya Singh, 24, who work as personal secretaries to two Apollo hospital doctors, were held for organising kidney trade.

(With inputs from PTI.)

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