MUMBAI — A desperate cry for help on social media has blown the lid off one of the biggest international organ trafficking rings in recent history. The Maharashtra Police, acting on a viral video posted by a young farmer, have busted a sophisticated “Kidney Racket” that spanned from the drought-hit villages of Vidarbha to the high-tech hospitals of Cambodia.
The racket, which targeted debt-ridden farmers with promises of “fast cash,” has led to the arrest of five key operatives, including two senior nephrologists from Delhi and Tiruchi.
The Viral Trigger: Roshan Kude’s Confession
The investigation began 48 hours ago when Roshan Kude, a 28-year-old farmer from Akola, posted a tearful video on Instagram that was shared over 100,000 times.
In the video, Kude showed surgical scars on his abdomen and alleged:
“I had a debt of ₹4 Lakh. Agents told me I have two kidneys and can easily live on one. They promised me ₹8 Lakh. They took me to a hospital in Cambodia, took my kidney, but gave me only ₹2 Lakh and threatened to kill me if I spoke.”
The Modus Operandi: ‘Medical Tourism’ Trap
According to the Superintendent of Police (SP) involved in the raid, the gang operated with frightening precision:
- Targeting: Agents scouted rural banks and tehsil offices to identify farmers with rejected loan applications.
- The Pitch: Victims were told they were going for “Medical Tourism” or “Donation Camps.”
- The Route: Victims were flown from Mumbai to Bangkok, and then driven across the border to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
- The Surgery: The transplants were conducted in private clinics, allegedly catering to wealthy buyers from Europe and the Middle East who paid up to ₹60 Lakh for a kidney.
The Crackdown: Doctors in Handcuffs
Following the video, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) raided multiple locations today.
- Arrests: Two high-profile doctors—Dr. S. K. Gupta (Delhi) and Dr. R. Kevin (Tiruchi)—have been detained. They are accused of falsifying “Donor Compatibility Reports” to bypass Indian laws.
- Seizures: Police recovered 15 passports, fake “Family Relation” certificates (used to prove the donor and recipient were related), and ₹40 Lakh in cash from an agent’s safe house in Pune.
Public Warning
The Maharashtra Cyber Cell has issued a warning: “Do not trust agents offering money for organs. Selling organs is a non-bailable offense under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, punishable by up to 10 years in jail.”
FAQs: The Kidney Racket Case
A: Yes. Under Indian law, organ donation can only be done for “altruistic reasons” (love/affection) to a close relative. exchanging money for organs is a serious crime for both the donor and the buyer.
A: He is the whistleblower and victim—a farmer from Akola, Maharashtra, whose viral video exposed the scam. He is currently under police protection.
A: Traffickers often use countries with looser medical regulations or porous borders to conduct illegal surgeries that would be impossible to hide in Indian hospitals.
Disclaimer: The names of the accused are based on the preliminary FIR filed on Jan 2, 2026. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
