How Andhra Pradesh man, who first tried to donate his own kidney, became key accused of Kerala organ trade

KOCHI: The special investigation team (SIT) probing the Nedumbassery organ trade racket has uncovered a shocking revelation about the kingpin of the operation in India, Ballamkonda Ram Prasad alias Prasad (41), hailing from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
Prasad, who was arrested on Saturday, had initially attempted to donate his own kidney but was unable to do so due to health issues.However, this setback did not deter him from becoming a key player in the illegal organ trade.
According to SIT sources, Prasad's efficiency in identifying and inducing potential donors with a high likelihood of matching recipients made him an invaluable asset to the racket. Investigations revealed that he was responsible for arranging around 60% of the donors, none of whom led to rejections.
Prasad's modus operandi involved engaging laboratories in Hyderabad to ensure a match through initial testing, as finding compatible donors for transplants is a challenging task.
The SIT, headed by district police chief (Ernakulam rural) Vaibhav Saxena, arrested Prasad from a hotel in Hyderabad on Thursday and brought him to Kochi, where his arrest was recorded. The investigation has also shed light on Prasad's network, which extended beyond the current racket. He is suspected of being involved in similar crimes with other organ trade operations.
Prasad's journey from a potential donor to a kingpin in the organ trade began during the Covid period, although officials suspect that he had been involved in this illicit activity even before the pandemic. He allegedly utilised social media platforms and webpages of donor associations to establish contact with potential donors, even employing tech-savvy individuals to assist him in this endeavor.
Compensation ranged up to Rs 6 lakh
The SIT's investigation has revealed that the donors, mostly hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and West Bengal, were canvassed by Prasad. The donors were then taken to Iran, where they were accommodated in a flat before being transported to a private hospital for the kidney transplant. The compensation for the donors ranged up to Rs 6 lakh, in addition to flight and accommodation expenses, while the agents involved in the racket pocketed a significantly higher amount.
SIT probing Iran link
As the SIT continues its probe into the racket's international links, particularly in Iran, efforts are underway to arrest Madhu, the racket's main contact in the Middle Eastern country. The possibility of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) taking over the case has not been ruled out, given the pan-India jurisdiction of the central agency and the involvement of multiple states and international elements in the crime.