Mumbai: Though a total of six arrests, including one hospital staff, have been made in the kidney scandal that rocked Powai-based Hiranandani hospital, whistleblower Mahesh Tanna says that this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are big fish involved in the racket who are yet to fall into the police net.
“They are just small ‘fries’ in the huge scandal going in the Hiranandani hospital. The illegal kidney transplant racket is going on in connivance with the senior staff members of the hospital. The big fish involved in the scandal are yet to fall into police net,” Powai-based social worker Mahesh Tanna told FPJ.
Tanna further added, “There is 100 percent involvement of the CEO of Hiranandani hospital Sujit Chatterjee and his second in-command Colonel Naik in the scam. So I guess Niranjan Hiranandani must have given some calls (to police) how to avoid the press.”
Earlier, four people were arrested by Powai police for their involvement in illegal kidney transplant which was scheduled to take place in Hiranandani hospital on July 14. The hospital ethics committee failed to scrutinise the documents before scheduling the date for organ transplantation of the said couple.
Also Read: Hiranandani hospital illegal kidney transplant racket busted, 4 arrested
The Mumbai police arrested 36-year-old organ transplant co-ordinator for the hospital Nilesh Kamble from the hospital and a middleman Khwaja from Mumbra late night on Saturday. Kamble used to approve the forge documents whereas Khwaja was involved in making forge documents, said the sources.
Kamble, sources added, was given Rs 8 lakh just three days before July 14, the day when alleged transplant of kidney was scheduled for. However, the money has also been recovered from Kamble’s house, said the police source.
The fresh arrests were made after the mastermind Vijendra Bisen revealed to interrogators about the involvement of Kamble and Khwaja.
Also Read: Illegal kidney racket, the ugly side of healthcare
On Thursday, the Powai police arrested four people in connection with alleged illegal kidney human transplant racket at Hiranandani hospital and were produced before the Andheri court that has sent them to police custody till July 19. Tanna, who exposed the racket, told FPJ that Mumbai police is not cooperating with him. “The police custody of the accused will end on July 19. I have candidly told police that if everything is not made public by July 19, I will hold a press conference next day with all the related documents to expose the remaining people involved in the scam,” Tanna said. The Maharashtra state health ministry has already formed a committee to investigate the kidney racket. The organ transplant licence of the hospital has been cancelled till the enquiry is underway.
About the mastermind
The Grant Road resident Sandeep alias VijendraBisen (42) is a habitual offender, who was discharged in a kidney transplant scam in 2007. The mastermind easily procures forge documents like birth certificates, Aadhar card, ration card, marriage certificates to prove that the donors and receivers are relatives. In this case too, Bisen made forge documents available to the would-be donor Shobha Thakur alias Rekha, who impersonated as the wife of the recipient BrijkishoreJaiswal. Both of them are from Gujarat, where Mumbai police is expected to visit for the investigation. The gang lures people of slum pockets to sell their kidneys for Rs 5 to 10 lakh, and since they reel under severe financial crunch so they agree to sell their organs.
Hospital clarification
We have been made aware that one of the medical social workers at the hospital is a suspect and has been arrested in the case involving falsification of information for kidney transplant. We take issues of ethics and compliance seriously and have terminated the services of the concerned person. We are fully cooperating with the investigation agencies in this matter. The hospital has constituted an internal committee of 5 doctors and we are also looking at engaging external consultants to further strengthen the screening and authorisation process for transplants. We adhere to all procedures mandated by law and will further strengthen it basis the advice of the committee. As a healthcare institution of repute we take matters of ethics and compliance seriously and are working towards building more safeguards to detect and avoid fraudulent cases.
