Gurgaon, Jan 25 (ANI): A huge organ transplant racket involving the sale of kidneys, has been unearthed in the heart of Gurgaon by a joint team of the Uttar Pradesh Police and the Gurgaon Police late tonight.

Gurgaon Police Commissioner Mohinder Lal said that as many as 450 to 500 people — most of them being labourers — could have been operated upon.

"The house number 4374 Palam Vihar is a residential area which has been transformed into a hospital and four doctors conducted kidney transplant in human bodies illegally," said Lal.

Policemen arrested five people, including one Upendra, an MBBS from Ballabhgarh, a "quack" Jagdish and three of their accomplices during a raid on a house in Sector
23 A, Moradabad Senior Superintendent of Police Prem Prakash said.

The raids followed complaints by residents in Moradabad about touts luring people to sell their kidneys. Those involved are believed to have sold about 500 kidneys in the past six years.

According to police officials the kidneys were sold to recipients at prices ranging from 50,000-100,000 rupees.

"This person who came to Moradabad three to four days back said that someone would come near Bacha Park in Meerut and collect two to three people and then send them to Ghaziabad and then to Gurgaon. At the private clinic here (Gurgaon) they would undergo surgery and after paying them some amount they would be sent back," Additional Superintendent of Police Manjul Saini said.

The labourers were promised a decent job and were taken into the clinics. The rooms were locked and they were not supplied with water or any sanitation facilities.

"We were told that for donating kidney they would give us one lakh rupees and then leave us after impressing that we should not disclose this in front of anybody," said Ajay, a victim.

Police officials feel that more than 400 people have been victims in this racket and most of them have been low wage labourers.

The main culprit in the trade was Dr. Upendra who was a certified Doctor who also had a clinic being run in Ballabhgarh in Haryana.

"People were mostly from Moradabad and some picked up from Meerut. They were brought to Delhi in a diagnostic centre and later taken to the clinics where they were operated upon," said SSP Prem Prakash.

Two more doctors allegedly involved in the racket are reportedly absconding. The illegal organ trade is supposed to have international links and further investigations have been going on. (ANI)