Hyderabad: Venky, a Hyderabad-based pharmacist and the organiser of a kidney racket, is on the run ever since Delhi cops busted his network and arrested four persons last week. Venky used the help of associates in Delhi to lure victims from North India.
Police said Venky created a Facebook profile from which he sent out messages to people, offering lakhs in exchange for kidneys. He used to look for potential buyers among customers who visited his or his friends’ medical shops, and act as a middleman. A Delhi police official said, “Venky seems to have connections with dialysis centres in South India. He was in touch with donors between the ages of 21 and 30 years, who were from North India.” It is believed that Venky wanted people from North India as the police there is less vigilant. The Hyderabad police cracked down on gangs in the past.
The police suspect that Venky may have been a part of another racket that was busted by the Nalgonda police last year. The cops are reluctant to reveal details about the suspect’s identity because it could jeopardise their chances of locating him.
Through their investigations, the police have uncovered several online forums where kidney donors from across the country are solicited. Hundreds of people who are in desperate need of money post their personal details and contact information on these forums. Agents of organised rackets browse through these forums to identify potential donors.
In one such Hyderabad-based racket, Rs 30 lakh was collected from each patient, but only Rs 3 lakh was paid to each donor, of whom there were at least ten, from Hyderabad, Vizag, and Jammu & Kashmir.
