Police admit organ theft racket exists in Cuttack, one held

Police commissioner R P Sharma today confirmed that Padmini Nayak, a poor woman of Cuttack city, had parted with one of her kidneys in exchange of money and an organ theft racket was active in the city.
Speaking to newsmen here, Sharma said Sharmistha Jena, a woman member of the racket, was arrested and the city police were on the lookout of two more persons in this connection.
"Basing on the recorded statements of the so-called donor and her husband, it has been established that money has been paid to the family in exchange of the organ," Sharma said confirming that the removal of a kidney of the woman in a private hospital at Bhubaneswar was not for donation.

The police on May 5 had claimed that there was no illegality in the kidney transplantation of the woman but it was unsure of involvement of any monetary transaction.
Sharma further said that on verification of the documents submitted by the family for the purpose of organ donation, it was prima facie found that many of them were forged and fake.
"The residence and income certificates submitted by the woman's husband are concocted," the police commissioner said proving involvement of a racket.
Padmini's husband, a rickshaw-puller, had submitted an income certificate claiming that he, as a businessman, has an annual income of Rs 2,60,000.

A police team from the city had visited the hospital in Bhubaneswar on the night of May four after a case was registered at the Mangalabag Police Station here by locals alleging that a racket involving organ theft was operating from the city.