Bombay hospital kidney racket mastermind sent in to judicial custody

Shivanand Kamat alias Shiva, mastermind of the Bombay Hospital kidney racket case, was remanded to judicial custody till September 3 by a local court on Sunday. Later, he was sent to the Arthur Road jail. According to the police, between 1994 and 1998, Shiva was reportedly involved in 25-30 fraudulent kidney transplants, and had received Rs 15-20 lakh per kidney. After the racket came to light, city crime branch sleuths arrested Shiva. He, however, jumped his bail.

The police had been looking for Shiva for the last 13 years and a special sessions court had also issued a standing non-bailable warrant against him. Two days ago, the Azad Maidan police had received a specific tip-off that Shiva would be arriving near the Bombay Hospital area. Subsequently, a trap was laid and Shiva was nabbed near the hospital. Since the case was being probed by the crime branch, Shiva's custody was given to the crime branch for inquiries.