Vizag doctor among six arrested in illegal kidney transplantation case

Visakhapatnam: The Vizag city police arrested six persons, including a doctor, in connection with an illegal kidney transplantation case. An investigation is underway to nab other accused, including a few more doctors, who performed the illegal organ transplantation.

The arrested persons have been identified as B. Elena, Madaka Kamaraju, Marra Srinu, Marra Kondamma, and Sekhar—all are agents or middlemen in the racket—and Dr. Parameswara Rao.

City police commissioner C.M. Thrivikram Varma said G. Vinay Kumar (32), a resident of Vambaby colony in Vizag city, was lured by an agent to sell one of his kidneys, promising that it could fetch him Rs. 8.5 lakhs. However, he was paid only Rs. 2.5 lakhs. One of Vinay’s kidneys was removed at Sri Thirumala hospital, Pendurthi in Vizag city on 16 December. Subsequently, Vinay lodged a police complaint, which ultimately led to the uncovering of the racket.

The investigation into the case revealed that Vinay Kumar, president of Vambay Colony, who lived with his parents and worked as a driver, was introduced by residents Marra Srinu and his wife Kondamma to Elena and Kamaraju of the same locality. Vinay was willing to donate his kidney for Rs. 8.5 lakhs but he was not aware about the recipient of the organ.

The police said Elena, Kamaraju, Srinu, and Kondamma introduced Vinay to Venkatesh, who is an organiser and accused in another kidney transplantation case in MR Peta police station limits in Vizag city.

Venkatesh arranged clinical tests for Vinay Kumar through Sekhar who prepared a record of the clinical tests by using fake names of doctors. Venkatesh engaged Ramesh and Pavan to arrange for a hospital in Vizag city.

Then Ramesh and Pavan approached Dr. Parameswara Rao of Sri Thirumala Nursing Home, located at Pendurthi in Vizag city, between September and October 2022. They paid the doctor for ICU and theatre to perform the operation.

Elena, Srinu, and Kamaraju picked up Vinay from Railway New Colony and approached Venkatesh and took him to Pendurthy Tirumala Hospital for transplantation. The process took place during the third week of December 2022. Elena and team did not pay the total agreed amount of Rs. 8.5 lakhs to Vinay Kumar and did not take care of his health after the transplantation for which Vinay and his parents demanded Rs. 1 lakh each from Kamaraju, Elena, and Srinu. When they did not agree to this, Vinay approached the police.

The accused Venkatesh had arranged donors, recipients, clinical tests, and hospital facilities for the transplantation in this case and some other cases too.

The team of doctors are yet to be identified.