Kathmandu, May 27

Police have arrested a man for undergoing illegal kidney transplantation.

According to the Metropolitan Police Range, Bhaktapur, Tharka Bahadur Basnet, 51, of Morang was arrested after the relatives of an intellectually disabled person filed a complaint against him on Friday, saying the victim’s kidney was removed illegally.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Krishna Prasai said, “We arrested Basnet on the basis of a  complaint and further investigation is under way. The suspect has been charged with human organ trafficking,” he said.

Knowing that the 29-year-old person of Kavre had an intellectual disability, Basnet acquired fake documents to establish him as his son, said Pralhad Giri, a brother of the victim. Giri said the kidney was transplanted on April 23, 2018 at Shahid Dharma Bhakta National Transplant Centre, Bhaktapur.

According to the Kidney Transplantation (Regulation and Prohibition) Rules, 2002, a person may donate his/her organ to immediate family members. Even the Human Organ Transplantation Act doesn’t allow anyone, except immediate family members, to donate or receive organs.

Dr Pukar Shrestha, executive director at hospital said the health facility was unknown about the case.  “We are unaware of the case,” he said.