Kidney racketeers fake documents

Probe suggests kidney network thriving in Bengaluru

Police who stumbled upon the case of a woman from Ramanagar district, who sold off her kidney to repay loans, believe it’s not an isolated incident. They suspect that a kidney racket thrives in and around Bengaluru and that some doctors may be involved, too. 

Shashikala, a resident of Nagashetty Halli Colony in Magadi in Ramanagar, is suspected to have sold one of her kidneys for just Rs three lakh and the organ was transplanted into an elderly woman from Bengaluru.

The transplant took place at Vikram Hospital in Mysuru on June 26. Srinivas, a resident of Cubbonpet in Bengaluru, took the help of his friend, Suresh, in creating fake documents and ensuring verification by the Halasuru Gate police in Bengaluru to get the organ transplanted into his mother, Lalithamma. 

“The manner in which the kidney was sold and the documents fabricated suggest the possibility of a major kidney racket. The truth would be unravelled only when we arrest Srinivas and Suresh,” a senior police officer handling the investigation told Deccan Herald. Police suspect that Suresh is involved in similar cases and that some doctors abetted him. 

Shashikala, the donor, had contested the Taggikuppe Gram Panchayat elections about three years ago and lost by two votes. She had borrowed heavily for electioneering and defaulted on payments. She had liabilities of about Rs seven lakh. Shashikala knew Srinivas and that his mother Lalithamma was suffering from renal failure. Keeping her husband, Venkatesh, in the dark, Shashikala agreed to donate the kidney to Srinivas’s mother for Rs three lakh, said the officer. 

Suresh helped Srinivas in creating fake documents. Shashikala’s name was changed to Shwetha in the documents. Shwetha was mentioned as Srinivas’s wife to ensure verification by the police and doctors.

Venkatesh deserted Shashikala after he learnt about the matter. Shashikala went to her mother’s house and took ill. “Shashikala claims that Venkatesh is innocent and deserted her fearing action by the police. We can’t completely trust her in the case. We are looking for Venkatesh and will question him to ascertain his role in the racket,” the officer said. 

Shashikala is being treated at the government hospital in Magadi for post-surgery complications. Her condition seems to be serious. Police said that she was being provided quality treatment.