Hyderabad: Police have uncovered a kidney racket operating since 2023, involving illegal kidney transplants at Alakananda Hospital in Saroornagar. Over 20 illegal transplants were carried out before the scam came to light with the discovery of two such cases at the hospital on Sunday.
Arrests and Key Players
Nine individuals, including Alakananda Hospital managing director Dr. Guntupally Sumanth and general surgeon Dr. Siddamshetty Avinash, have been arrested. Two key organizers, Pavan (alias Leon) and Laxman, remain at large.
Rachakonda Police Commissioner G. Sudheer Babu revealed that Dr. Avinash, a central figure in the racket, confessed to conducting illegal kidney transplants at Alakananda Hospital over seven months.
Dr. Avinash’s Role
Dr. Avinash, who earned his MBBS in China and a diploma in surgery from Pune, previously operated Janani Hospital in Saidabad and Aruna Hospital in Kukatpally. Facing financial troubles, he was approached by Laxman in 2022. Laxman offered him ₹2.5 lakh per transplant surgery if his hospital premises were used.
Between April 2023 and June 2024, illegal transplants were carried out at Janani Hospital. Recipients paid ₹55–60 lakh per surgery, with ₹15 lakh going to the donors. Lead surgeons, including Dr. Raj Shekhar from Tamil Nadu and Dr. Sohib from Jammu and Kashmir, received ₹10 lakh per surgery, while operating theatre assistants were paid ₹30,000 per surgery.
After Janani Hospital shut down in June 2024 due to administrative issues, Dr. Avinash partnered with Dr. Sumanth of Alakananda Hospital. They conducted around 20 illegal transplants there between December 2024 and January 2025. Dr. Sumanth reportedly allowed the use of his hospital for ₹1.5 lakh per surgery, while Dr. Avinash received ₹1 lakh per procedure.
Racket Operations
Laxman managed logistics, including sourcing donors, organizing medical staff, and finding recipients. Pavan played a key role in recruiting doctors and medical teams. The bulk of the money was pocketed by brokers and organizers, while donors and medical staff received relatively small amounts.
Ongoing Investigation
Police teams are actively tracking Pavan and Laxman, coordinating with law enforcement across states. Four medical assistants—Ramavath Ravi, Sapavath Ravinder, Sapavath Harish, and Podila Sai—were arrested while trying to finalize another deal. Another suspect, Ponnu Swamy from Karnataka, is believed to have played a crucial role in procuring contacts of recipients.
The arrested individuals have been remanded to judicial custody, and authorities are continuing the investigation to dismantle the entire network.
