Indian police investigating Sri Lankan kidney racket - report

Indian police are investigating into allegations of a Colombo-based kidney racket in which a youngster from Hyderabad lost a life, Indian media reports.

A criminal case under Information Technology Act was registered after Ganesh, brother of Dileep Maaru, approached the Hyderabad Central Crime Station alleging that his brother died in Colombo because of a kidney racket. A resident of Kishan Bagh in old city, Maaru left his house on March 22 telling his family members that he was going to Visakhapatnam in search of a job.

Six days later, he rang up his family in Hyderabad stating that he had actually landed in Colombo to find a job. “He said that two other youngsters were accompanying him then”, Mr. Ganesh told the police.

Meanwhile on March 30, Maaru’s family received a telephone call from Sri Lanka police stating that Maaru died and his body was shifted to local Government hospital. The police reportedly said that he died of heart attack.

With the help of Indian Government, Maaru’s family got the body flown into Hyderabad on April 3 and performed his final rites. “However, it haunted my mind why my brother in mid-20s died of heart attack. While checking his emails I found some persons communicating with him through emails about purchasing his kidney,” he told the police.

According to CCS DCP Pala Raju, the persons communicating with Maaru offered him Rs 15 lakh if he agreed to sell his kidney. They also offered free to and fro air tickets, free accommodation and also assured to arrange passport and visa.

“We cannot say if his kidney was removed and if Maaru died after or during surgery. Based on email content, a case was registered,” he said. Police are analysing those emails and Maaru’s mobile phone call data record, The Hindu reports.