Multi-specialty hospital Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in Delhi has pleaded innocence in an alleged kidney sales racket and has said it will cooperate with the police in the investigations.

“The hospital has been a victim of a well-orchestrated operation to cheat patients and the hospital. We urge the police to take the strictest of action against all those involved,” the hospital said in a statement on Friday.

6 arrested

The Delhi Police arrested six accused in the case, including secretarial staff of doctors working in the hospital, late on Thursday, according to reports. The hospital said it was extending all its support to the police.

According to the police, the members of the network first sought details of the patients requiring kidneys and then lured poor donors based outside Delhi with the help of middlemen. The arrests were made around 9 p.m. on Thursday at Apollo Hospital in southeast Delhi. The police were tipped off about their presence, a senior officer said.

The accused include three middlemen, who are believed to have sold at least four kidneys so far in Delhi, and three potential donors, including two women, who were picked from a village in north India, the official said.

A case regarding the matter has been registered at Sarita Vihar Police Station and the accused are being interrogated.

“The hospital, in order to ensure compliance with the law and diligence in process has an independent body with external members also for according consent for any transplant surgery. This committee goes through all documents necessary to ensure that requirements under the Act are complied with. Further, the hospital has ensured that all due process as per the law has been followed,” the Apollo hospital said.

It added that the staff identified were not employed by the hospital.

“While all due precautions were taken, it appears fake and forged documents were used for this racket with a criminal intent,” the hospital said.

(With inputs from The Hindu staff reporter)

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