NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police have uncovered a major human organ transplant racket, arresting seven individuals, including a doctor. The operation, of this racket, has been ongoing since 2019, involving both donors and recipients having connections with Bangladesh.
Delhi Police Commissioner Amit Goel identified the “mastermind” behind the scheme as a Bangladeshi national. DCP Crime Amit Goel said in a media statement, “Seven individuals have been arrested, including three Bangladeshi nationals and their Indian translator, who is also a doctor, along with two hospital staff members.
The arrested doctor is linked to two or three hospitals and played a crucial role in facilitating the illegal transplants, despite knowing that the donors and recipients were not blood relatives.
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Commissioner Goel revealed that the racket charged between ₹25-30 lakh for each transplant. He added, “The doctor practised and operated from two hospitals. These Bangladeshi nationals would bring donors and recipients from Bangladesh, facilitate their transplants, and prepare the necessary documents. Further investigation is underway.”
India’s Transplantation of Human Organs Act (2014) strictly regulates organ donations, allowing them only from immediate blood relations such as parents and siblings. Additionally, no Indian living donor can donate their organs to a foreign recipient unless they are a close relative. In such cases, a senior member of the recipient’s embassy must certify the relationship, and it must be proven that no Indian patient is eligible for the donation.
The bust of this racket underscores the importance of strict adherence to legal and ethical guidelines in organ transplantation and highlights the ongoing challenges in combating the illegal organ trade.