Tarn Taran, September 26
In a significant development that may open Pandora’s box in the coming days, the authorisation committee, headed by Tarn Taran deputy commissioner Khushi Ram, has cleared the case of transplantation of kidney of an unrelated donor to additional deputy commissioner Kirpal Singh.

Earlier, Amritsar was the hub of a kidney racket. The trade, which was busted in 2002, flourished with the connivance of doctors and officials.

However, the deputy commissioner claimed that the case was cleared in the high-powered committee meeting in a transparent manner and the donor, Sunny (23), and his father were told about the post-operation complications that could arise. While Kirpal Singh is posted as ADC, Tarn Taran, Sunny, hails from Chhehta (Amritsar). The deputy commissioner, however, said father-son duo has denied that the kidney was being donated under any pressure or against any monitory benefit. The DC said they claimed that since the ADC belonged to their community, they were donating the organ out of sheer love and affection.

The deputy commissioner, who also has additional charge of Amritsar, said the case was unanimously cleared by the authorisation committee comprising the superintendent of police, representative of the Indian Medical Association, and professor of Government Medical College, Amritsar.

Incidentally, Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, who is district police chief, Amritsar, had busted the kidney racket in 2002 when he was SP (city). He had directed the superintendent of police to attend the meeting of the authorisation committee that gave nod to the unrelated donor.

It may be mentioned here that on January 11, 2003, the Punjab police had arrested Dr P.K Sareen, chief transplant surgeon, Ram Saran Das Kishori Lal Charitable Trust Hospital, Amritsar; Dr O.P Mahajan, head, Government Medical College, Amritsar, and head of the authorisation committee; and his colleague, Dr Jagdish Gargi (now principal, Government Medical College). They are alleged to have been key players in a kidneys-for-cash trade that is believed to have generated over Rs 100 crore since the Transplantation of Human Organs Act was enforced in Punjab in 1994.

The deputy commissioner also said that the case of kidney transplant was cleared at the request of Silver Oaks Hospital, Chandigarh, where the ADC is believed to be admitted.