A well-known physician from Hyderabad has been arrested on suspicion of being the mastermind behind a global kidney trafficking ring that operates out of Kerala. The arrest was made by a special investigation team (SIT) led by Ernakulam Rural SP Vaibhav Saxena, who traveled to Hyderabad to apprehend the suspect based on a tip-off.
The doctor's involvement was revealed after the arrest of Sabit Nasir at Kochi International Airport. Nasir, a native of Kerala, was detained upon his return from Iran. He confessed to facilitating the illegal sale of kidneys, implicating three individuals, including the Hyderabad doctor, in the operation. The police have withheld the doctor's identity, citing the ongoing investigation.
Nasir revealed that he had transported nearly 40 individuals from various states, including Karnataka and Telangana, to Iran for kidney donations. These donors were promised substantial financial rewards, ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh per kidney. However, the donors ultimately received only Rs 6 lakh after deductions for various expenses. Nasir admitted to receiving Rs 5 lakh per donor.
The illegal network was uncovered when the family of a deceased donor filed a complaint. This led to an investigation by central agencies, who traced the doctor in Hyderabad. The SIT, headed by SP Saxena, promptly traveled to Hyderabad to arrest the doctor and further investigate the case. The police are now focused on locating and arresting the two other suspects involved.
Nasir's repeated trips to Iran raised suspicions, which led to his arrest at Kochi Airport. According to his remand report, Nasir took people from different states to Iran, where unrelated organ donations are legal. The donors were provided with passports and visas, and after the surgeries, they stayed in an apartment for recovery before returning to India.
Dr. Anil Kumar, a senior consultant physician in Hyderabad, commented on the issue, emphasizing the need for public awareness about the dangers of such schemes. He also called for stricter laws and severe punishments to deter such illegal activities.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
