Kidney racket accused involved in 35 cases

Following the arrest of four persons at Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, for allegedly forging documents and running a kidney racket, Powai police station sources have now confirmed that the culprits were involved in 35 similar cases this year.

The state has launched an inquiry to find out lapses on the part of the hospital while scrutinising documents required for live kidney transplants. The state human organ transplant programme has issued orders to cancel registrations for transplant operations. The investigation revealed that a blank letterhead of Hiranandani Hospital signed by nephrologist Dr Mukesh Shete was recovered from the agents. Also, various documents were signed by the team of doctors without verifying the original.

A police source said, “We are questioning doctors and nephrologists. We have learnt that there are 35 similar operations carried out by the same group.”

Dr Shetye said that the letterhead was forged but added that his involvement was limited to inspecting the medical part of the case and not the documentation. “I have to inspect the patient suffering from severe kidney disorder, and decide whether he needs transplant. The documents are inspected and approved by the transplant co-ordinator and an ethical committee, which includes a government official. After getting all things checked, we went to operate. While operating, we were alarmed that an external racket was going on regarding this. Who would forge all documents and fool the system,” he said.

Dr Gauri Rathod, assistant director at Directorate of Health Services, the department of Human Organ Transplant Act, said, “We have been monitoring this since two months. A hospital having a live kidney transplant usually has a committee that goes through required documents and takes a video of all the interviews of the recipient and the donor before giving a nod for transplant. Our committee will see if there were any loopholes in this procedure. Stringent action will be taken against the guilty”.

The CEO of the hospital, Dr Sujit Chatterjee meanwhile said, “Today, the hospital stands a victim of forgery.”