Delhi: 22-year-old recipient in kidney racket arrested

A 22-year-old recipient has been arrested in connection with a kidney racket which was busted at a private hospital in New Delhi earlier this month, police said on Friday.

The accused, identified as Ashutosh (22), is the first kidney recipient arrested in the high-profile case in which 12 people, including personal assistant of senior nephrologists, middlemen, donors and the racket's kingpin, have been nabbed so far, a senior police official said.

The man, a native of Uttar Pradesh, was arrested from a hospital in central Delhi, where he had come for a check-up on Thursday. His father is a junior engineer at Delhi Jal Board, the official said.

Ashutosh is believed to have paid Rs 25 lakh for the kidney transplant, of which Rs 3 lakh was paid to the Kanpur-based donor. Efforts are on to identity more recipients in connection with the case, of which three more have been identified, the official said.

The middlemen used to forge documents to adhere to organ transplantation laws. So far, the police have come across at least 10 cases facilitated by the racket, the official added.