Investigations into the shocking kidney trafficking racket uncovered in Chandrapur have widened dramatically, revealing connections that now span at least nine Indian states. This expansion exposes the massive scale and intricate operations of an inter-state organ trade network, triggering parallel probes and intensifying manhunts nationwide.
High-Level Inquiries and Interstate Coordination
In response to the findings and claims made by the Chandrapur police, the Tamil Nadu government has constituted a high-level inquiry committee. This panel will operate under the state's directorate of health services. A key part of its coordinated probe will involve seeking crucial documents and case records from the Maharashtra government. The aim is to uncover the medical and administrative lapses that the racketeers allegedly exploited to carry out their illegal transplants.
Meanwhile, the search for key accused intensifies. While Chandrapur police have declared Tamil Nadu-based doctor Dr Rajaratnam Govindaswamy as absconding, it has emerged that a Tamil Nadu health department team recently conducted a videographed inquiry with him at STAR KIMS Hospital. Adding a legal twist, reports suggest the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has granted Govindaswamy transit bail. This permits him to appear before the Chandrapur court to seek regular bail. However, sources within Chandrapur police stated they are yet to receive a certified copy of this court order and are awaiting his appearance.
Manhunts and Uncovered Tragedies
Another pivotal figure in the case, Delhi-based Dr Ravinder Pal Singh, has allegedly vanished. Sources indicate he went missing after his bail application was rejected in Chandrapur. With his mobile phone switched off, police are now preparing special teams to track and arrest him.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is actively searching for two individuals: a victim from Bengaluru, Karnataka, and the person who received his kidney transplant. In a grim discovery, investigators have also unearthed a case involving a Bangladeshi national who died during a kidney removal surgery at a hospital in Tiruchirappalli (Trichy). This tragic incident further highlights the deadly risks of the illegal organ trade.
Bail Pleas and the Complaint That Sparked the Probe
These developments unfold as the alleged key handler of the racket, who posed as 'Dr Krishna' and has been identified as Ramakrishna Sunchu, has moved the Chandrapur sessions court seeking bail. The plea, filed by a Nagpur-based lawyer, is scheduled for a hearing on Monday, January 12.
Sunchu was arrested from Solapur based on inputs from Roshan Kule, a victim from Minthur. It was Kule's complaint that first brought the entire kidney trafficking racket to light. After custodial interrogation, Sunchu was remanded to judicial custody until January 12. The police have stated they will strongly oppose his bail, arguing that his release at this crucial stage could severely derail the ongoing investigation.
The case continues to unravel, pointing to a sophisticated and far-reaching network that preyed on the vulnerable, raising serious questions about regulatory oversight in the medical transplant system.
