Authorities in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, have uncovered an alleged illegal kidney transplant racket involving a doctor couple and a suspected intermediary. The proceedings followed a coordinated operation by law enforcement and the health department, leading to detentions and a wider investigation into multiple healthcare facilities.
Officials reported that the case involves unauthorized kidney transplant procedures conducted in violation of India’s organ transplantation regulations. The alleged activities were spread across more than one private hospital, indicating a structured network handling different stages of the transplant process.
The operation took place in Kanpur on March 31, 2026. Raids were conducted at multiple healthcare facilities, including Med-Life Hospital, Ahuja Hospital, and Priya Hospital in the Kalyanpur area. The proceedings followed late-night inspections carried out by a joint team involving the health department and police authorities, led by senior officials including the Chief Medical Officer and the Commissioner of Police.
Authorities reported that a total of six individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, including five doctors and one alleged mastermind. Among those arrested are Dr. Preeti Ahuja, her husband Dr. Surjeet Singh Ahuja, along with Rajesh Kumar, Ram Prakash, and Narendra Singh. Police identified Shivam Agarwal, aged 32, as the alleged mastermind, who is accused of impersonating a medical professional to facilitate the illegal transplant network.
Speaking to Bhaskar English, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ramit Rastogi, a member of the investigation team, stated that
Inputs were received regarding illegal kidney transplants in Kalyanpur hospitals. When a joint team of police, vigilance, and doctors raided the hospitals, the kidney transplants were found to be true. The teams are conducting ongoing raids and inquiries.
Dr. Ramit Rastogi, Chief Medical Officer
Investigators found that the network used digital platforms, including messaging applications such as Telegram, to identify and contact potential donors. In one documented instance, a donor, an MBA student, Ayush originally from Bihar was promised ₹10 lakh for kidney donation but reportedly received only ₹3.5 lakh. The organ was then sold to a recipient Parul Tomar from Meerut for approximately ₹60 lakh.
To bypass legal safeguards, forged documents were allegedly prepared to falsely show a family relationship between donor and recipient. Under Indian law, organ donation is permitted primarily among near relatives or through regulated approval processes to prevent commercial trade.
Investigators also found that external surgeons were brought in to perform transplant surgeries. After the procedures, patients were reportedly shifted between different hospitals, which may have been intended to avoid detection and reduce traceability.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the racket may have been operating on a large scale. Officials reported evidence of more than a dozen illegal transplants, while initial statements from the accused suggest that as many as 50 to 60 procedures may have been carried out over the past two years. Authorities are continuing to verify these claims through medical and financial records.
The case reportedly surfaced after a dispute related to payment between a donor and members of the network. The donor alleged that the agreed compensation was not fully paid, prompting authorities to initiate an inquiry that led to the exposure of the larger operation.
Investigators suspect that the network extended beyond Kanpur, with possible links to cities including Lucknow, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, as well as cross-border connections to Nepal. Authorities are also examining the potential involvement of foreign nationals as part of the broader network.
Police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 143 and 3, along with applicable sections of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act. Officials have issued notices to multiple hospitals and are investigating the possible involvement of six to seven additional healthcare facilities.
Authorities have placed both donor and recipient under medical observation while reviewing hospital records, financial transactions, and digital evidence. Officials are also examining whether additional hospitals or individuals are linked to the network.
The investigation remains ongoing, with agencies working to determine the full extent of the alleged illegal organ transplant activities and identify all those involved.
(Rh/SS/MSM)
