The kingpin of the Cuttack kidney sale racket Rashmi Ranjan Khatua on Monday surrendered before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court of Cuttack Sadar. Magistrate Anup Swarup Seth remanded Khatua to 14-day judicial custody after rejecting his bail application.
Khatua, who had been on the run ever since the sensational kidney sale episode had unfolded last month, came to the court in the first hours of the day accompanied by his lawyer and surrendered. He was immediately handed over to the police and later sent to the Choudwar jail near here. Sources said the police would take him in remand for further interrogation.
With Khatua in custody now, the number of persons arrested by city police in connection with the two cases of illegal kidney sale went up to seven, including a woman. While six of them, including Khatua, now lodged in the Choudwar jail, the arrested director of a Vishakhapatnam-based private hospital is yet to be brought here as he is now undergoing treatment in a Hyderabad hospital.
At least two poor women of the city had complained before the police that they were coaxed by a woman accomplish of Khatua to part with one of their kidneys in exchange of huge money. But after removal of their organs, they were not paid the promised amount. Khatua, who runs a private hospital in the city, allegedly prepared some fake documents in the names of the women and their family members to show that the kidneys were removed for the purpose of genuine organ donations.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the police have also questioned State Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) Sonamali Bag in this connection. The DMET heads an authorisation committee to approve the organ donations. Police sources said the DMET would be quizzed again and, if required, he could be arrested.