In a troubling case highlighting predatory lending and alleged organ trafficking, a farmer from Minthur village in Nagbhid tehsil, Chandrapur district, Roshan Shivdas Kule, reported that he was compelled to sell one of his kidneys in Cambodia in an effort to alleviate mounting debt. The case has since expanded into a probe of an alleged kidney trafficking racket involving a fake facilitator who presented himself as a doctor.
According to police and complaint details, Kule initially took a loan of around ₹1 lakh in 2021 from local moneylenders after farming setbacks and repeated crop losses left him financially strained. Due to high interest rates, around 40% and continuous penalties from moneylenders, his debt reportedly grew to 74 lakhs, far beyond his capacity to repay, pushing him into financial distress.
Faced with constant pressure from 6 moneylenders, Kule ultimately sold his left kidney in Cambodia in October 2024 in a Military hospital and received approximately ₹8 lakh for the organ, which he intended to use for partial repayment of his debts. Cambodian hospitals have been identified as venues where some Indian donors have undergone such procedures after being facilitated abroad.
A subsequent medical examination confirmed that he had only one kidney, supporting his claim of kidney removal.
Following the farmer’s complaint, addressing the media, Chandrapur Superintendent of Police Mummaka Sudarshan said a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted by Maharashtra authorities to probe the case further and about the alleged organ sale and its underlying network. Initial investigation has uncovered a broader pattern of illegal lending and possible organ trafficking links.
Several individuals identified as moneylenders reportedly involved in coercive lending practices have been arrested in connection with the case. In addition, police have apprehended a man posing as a doctor, identified as Mallesh (also known as “Dr. Krishna”), from Solapur, who allegedly facilitated Kule’s travel and organ sale in Cambodia. Police allege that Mallesh is actually an engineer by training who had himself previously donated a kidney and later acted as an agent for the trafficking racket.
Investigators have stated that Mallesh may have recruited and arranged travel for 10 to 12 other individuals from India to Cambodia, where their kidneys were allegedly removed. The probe suggests that donations were brokered through social media outreach and online contacts, with the accused receiving commission payments of 1 lakh for each case.
Authorities have also arrested 4 moneylenders from Bramhapuri who was previously absconding, in connection with the extortion and loan practices that reportedly contributed to Kule’s financial distress.
Under Indian law, the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994, prohibits the sale of human organs for monetary consideration and mandates that organ donations must be altruistic and approved by appropriate authorization committees. Organ sale and trafficking are punishable offences due to the risk of exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
Organ trafficking involves the illegal recruitment, transport, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons for the purpose of organ removal, often exploiting socio-economic vulnerabilities.
It is distinct from legal transplantation, which requires medical evaluation, informed consent, and adherence to ethical and legal safeguards. Cases where donors are coerced or unduly influenced by financial duress fall under criminal statutes in India and many other countries.
(Rh/TL)
