Kidney scam kingpin gets 7 yrs in jail for threatening witnesses

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, February 29

The court of Special Judicial Magistrate (CBI) Aman Inder Singh today sentenced Dr Amit Kumar, a convict in the multi-crore kidney transplant racket, and two others to seven years jail and a fine of Rs 20,000 for threatening the witnesses in the scam, which came to the fore in 2008 in Gurugram.

“Dr Amit Kumar, his brother Jeewan Kumar and his wife Bulbul Kataria, a former beauty queen from Chandigarh, were held guilty under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 195-A (threatening any person to give false evidence) of the Indian Penal Code,” defence counsel Amit Dudeja said.

The court order reads,”Convicts are found to be in hand glove with each other in threatening the witnesses, who are to appear before special judge in kidney case, such type of persons with such disposition of mind deserve punishment to deter like-minded persons in the society to upkeep the faith of people in the administration of justice. Witnesses are eyes and ears of the court and the convicts under a deep-rooted conspiracy have tried to influence them to thwart the judicial process which a very serious crime. If the convicts have succeeded in their nefarious design then it will have led to very serious situation. Therefore, exemplary punishment has to be awarded in this case. Whenever any decision comes, its implications have to be kept in mind and its impact on the society has to borne in mind. If the crime which had been committed by the convicts is taken lightly then it will be lead to anarchy.”

Dr Amit Kumar was already sentenced to seven years imprisonment in kidney transplant scam.