The State government has constituted a committee headed by Bangalore City Joint Commissioner of Police Gopal Hosur to conduct an inquiry into the racket in kidney trade that has come to light in and around Bangalore City.
The committee, which also includes police from the City Crime Branch, besides health department officials, has been asked to submit its report in two months.

The State government has also constituted three teams of doctors from the Department of Health and Family Welfare to visit the hospitals all over the State and verify the records concerning kidney transplantation during last five years. The teams have been directed to submit their reports within a week.

Speaking to media persons after a high-level meeting with officers in Bangalore on Tuesday, Minister for Health R Ashok said that since January 2007, 64 cases of persons donating kidney to their relatives and 30 cases of non-relatives donating kidney have been reported. A person from Pune has also undergone kidney transplantation in the City.

From the preliminary investigation it has come to light that Mahadev, who is the main accused in the racket, has enticed 25 persons into giving away their kidney for money. “The police who have recovered photos of these 25 persons from the residence of the accused are trying to establish their identity.

Moreover, bogus ration cards, income certificates and other documents have also been recovered from his residence. I have directed the revenue authorities for taking action for issuing the bogus certificates. Moreover orders will also be issued to the deputy commissioners to ensure that the purpose for which the income certificates are issued is clearly mentioned on the certificates,” the minister added. 

According to the minister the following are the 29 hospitals in the State which have been authorised to carry out kidney transplantation.

Of these, 21 hospitals are situated in Bangalore City:
Lakeside Medical Care Hospital, MS Ramaiah Hospital, St John Medical College, BKF Chandi Hospital, N U Trust Hospital, Mallya Hospital, Church of South India Hospital, Narayana Hrudayalaya, DG Hospital, Command Hospital, (all Bangalore); AJ Hospital and Research Centre, Mangalore; Manipal Hospital, Bangalore; JSS Hospital, Mysore; Basappa Memorial Hospital, Mysore; BGS Apollo Hospital, Mysore; Sagar Apollo Hospital, Bangalore; K R Hospital, Bangalore; University Medical Centre, Mangalore; Kasturba Hospital, Udupi; M S Ramaiah Memorial, Bangalore; Mallige Medical Centre, Bangalore; KLE Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belgaum; Vikram Hospital and Heart Centre, Mysore; Goshya Hospital, Bangalore; Trinity Hospital, Bangalore; Vydhehi Institute of Medical Science, Bangalore; Apollo Hospital, Bangalore; Father Mullar Medical College Hospital, Mangalore and Columbia-Asia Hospital, Hebbal, Bangalore.

Test on ‘relation’
Bangalore, DHNS: Health Minister R Ashok on Tuesday said he would discuss with the experts the possibility of mandatory conduct of HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigens) typing to determine the relationship between the kidney donors and receivers to check false claim of relationship through the existing systems of filling affidavits before the magistrate and obtaining certificates from the Revenue Department.

Talking to reporters in Bangalore, Mr Ashok said the results of HLA, a type of proteins, are used to identify good matches for tissue grafts and organ transplants, like kidney or bone marrow transplant. Test is also used to determine relationships between children and parents when such relationships are in question.

A relatively unique set of HLAs found in every human being and they are inherited from parents. The half of the HLAs in a person matches with the HLAs of their mother and remaining half with that of the father, and its is unlikely that two unrelated people will have the same HLA make-up. HLA typing can be easily conducted in hospitals by taking blood sample and is also cheaper when compared to the DNA test, Mr Ashok pointed out.

Mr Ashok said that a separate squad would be formed to probe the role of middlemen, doctors in the alleged kidney racket that was busted by the Bangalore rural police two days ago. He also said steps would be taken to plug the loopholes in the existing stringent law governing organ transplantation without affecting the interest of patients.