Kidney Donation Scam Unearthed in Odisha: Couple Duped of ₹12 Lakh

Balasore: In a case highlighting the loopholes in organ donation regulations, a Balasore resident, Markand Nath, has been arrested for allegedly cheating a Keonjhar couple of Rs 12 lakh. The startling scam involved promising a kidney for the ailing Kutulu Kumar Majhi in exchange for the hefty sum.

Majhi, battling kidney failure at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, was desperate for a transplant. Enter Nath, who posed as a potential donor, claiming he could arrange a kidney from his wife for Rs 12 lakh. In a shocking move, a formal agreement legalizing the kidney transaction was even signed at a notary office on May 12, 2022.

However, after pocketing the money, Nath vanished, leaving Majhi and his wife in dire straits. Frustrated and heartbroken, Majhi’s wife finally filed a complaint at Mangalabag police station in Cuttack after a year of fruitless waiting.

Acting swiftly, the police apprehended both Nath and his wife. Cuttack DCP Pinak Mishra stated, “While both parties initially agreed to the kidney donation, the financial transaction and the donor’s failure to fulfill their commitment constitute clear wrongdoing.”