‘DHS member was shielding doctors in kidney scam’

As the investigation into an illegal kidney racket continues — with five doctors from Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital in Powai having been arrested — sources confirmed the role of a few doctors from other hospitals as well on Friday. These doctors are also under the scanner, and a senior doctor from the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) was shielding the doctors involved in the racket, the sources added.

Two doctors also moved the session’s court seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with the alleged kidney transplant racket unearthed at Hiranandani Hospital. But the anticipatory bail applications of Dr Suvin Shetty and Dr Veena Swelikar were rejected after being heard on Thursday.

Sources said that the doctor from the DHS was also involved in the illegal transplant procedure. The role of the DHS doctor involved casting a blind eye to the authenticity of the documents submitted, i.e. he gave a green signal for a transplant operation without verifying the necessary documents.

A state minister speaking on the condition of anonymity said, “One of the assistant directors of the DHS is involved in this scam. He was one of the members of the Hiranandani Hospital committee. The committee used to take a call on transplant operations. But he never verified the papers concerned and signed it blindly, despite knowing that things are not in proper order. He gave a green signal to the illegal organ transplant, which in itself shows his involvement, as revealed during investigations.”

Dr Mohan Jadhav, the director of health services, said, “The investigations related to the kidney transplant scam are still underway. Dr Gauri Rathod, the assistant director at DHS and the head of the transplant department, is handling the task of taking the statements of the people involved in this racket to the committee. Anyone found to be violating the law in this case would not be spared. ”

The Powai police arrested the five doctors who failed to follow the procedures prescribed under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (TOHA). A case has been registered against them under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and TOHA pertaining to cheating, impersonation, criminal conspiracy and forgery.

Earlier, based on the report filed by a three-member committee formed by the health department, the Powai police on Tuesday had arrested Dr Mukesh Shete (49), a nephrologist, Dr Anurag Naik (56), Dr Sujit Chattarjee, the CEO of Hiranandani hospital, Dr. Mukesh Shah (57), a urologist and Dr Prakash Shetty.