Had Previously Approved Suspicious Organ Transplant During Tenure on Authorization Committee
Pune: In a significant development in the 2022 kidney transplant racket, the Pune Police on Thursday arrested Dr Ajay Taware, former medical superintendent of Sassoon General Hospital and then head of the Regional Authorization Committee responsible for approving organ transplants, officials said.
Dr Taware, already lodged at Yerwada Central Jail in connection with another case involving alleged tampering of blood samples in the May 2024 Porsche crash case, was taken into fresh custody on a production warrant. He was arrested for allegedly clearing a fraudulent kidney transplant proposal during his tenure at the hospital.
Suspicious Swap Exposed After Donor Confessed
In May 2022, Pune Police registered a case against 15 people, including senior staff from Ruby Hall Clinic, in connection with alleged irregularities in a kidney transplant performed at the hospital in March 2022. The case came to light after Sarika Sutar, a resident of Kolhapur, revealed she had posed as the wife of kidney patient Amit Salunke after being promised Rs 15 lakh.
Sutar had donated her kidney to a young woman, while the young woman’s mother, in turn, donated her kidney to Salunke — a swap often conducted when blood group mismatches prevent direct donations. However, just four days after the surgery, Sutar disclosed her true identity following a monetary dispute.
Forgery, Lax Scrutiny and Committee Failure Alleged
The hospital immediately informed the police, leading to an investigation that revealed forged documents and fraudulent identities. Two alleged middlemen — Abhijit Gatne and Ravindra Rodge — were arrested for fabricating papers to present Sutar as ‘Sujata Salunke’.
Authorities claim that despite inconsistencies in Sutar’s responses during the authorization committee’s interview, Dr Taware approved the transplant. According to police, the state-appointed inquiry committee found lapses in due diligence, prompting further action against Taware.
Court Remands Taware in Custody Till June 2
“Dr Taware’s name surfaced after the state committee indicted him. He was arrested on Wednesday and produced in court, which remanded him to police custody till June 2,” a Pune crime branch officer said.
The prosecution argued that Taware had misused his official position, approving the transplant on the basis of forged documents and a fake donor identity. Investigators also aim to probe potential financial transactions linked to the racket.
The police further stated that a total of nine such kidney swaps were conducted during Dr Taware’s tenure, all of which will be reviewed. Seventeen individuals have been named in the case so far, with chargesheets already filed against seven.
