Kidney trade: Chargesheets filed before Judicial Magistrate, State tells HC

The State government on Monday informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that three chargesheets have been filed before Kumarapalayam Judicial Magistrate in Namakkal district in connection with three cases registered with regard to the illegal kidney sale racket.

A Division Bench of Justices G. Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan was informed by the State that 12 persons had been named as accused. Taking note of a status report submitted by the Special Investigation Team, the court closed the public interest litigation petition filed by S.N. Sathishwaran of Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district.

The petitioner said kidney ailments had increased in the last few decades. Thanks to the advances in medical technology, kidney transplants had increased substantially across Tamil Nadu. However, illegalities, including kidney theft, were being committed in the process of kidney transplants. This created fear among the people.

He alleged that Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital in Perambalur and Cethar Hospital in Tiruchi were found to have committed serious medical malpractices and kidney thefts.

The scandal began unfolding when videos of workers of Pallipalayam and nearby areas in Namakkal district surfaced online. The victims claimed that they were lured into selling their kidneys for ₹5 lakh — ₹10 lakh. Several victims later admitted that they received much less than what was promised, he said.

The petitioner had sought an interim direction for the constitution of an independent, impartial and competent committee headed by an IAS officer and comprising medical professionals to probe the alleged illegal organ trade and submit a detailed report to the court. He had also sought a CBI probe in the case.