Kidney trafficking: HC to hear Delhi doc’s bail plea on Feb 24

Chandrapur: The final hearing on the bail plea of Delhi-based doctor Ravinder Pal Singh, a prime accused in the alleged interstate kidney trafficking case, is scheduled for Feb 24 before the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court. Police are set to argue that Singh has not fully cooperated with the investigation.Earlier, the court had granted Singh interim protection from arrest, directing him to assist investigators. Sources say he appeared before the investigating officer between Feb 11 and 16, but offered little substantive information, reportedly responding "I don't remember" to critical questions.
Police are expected to highlight this alleged non-cooperation during the upcoming hearing. The final hearing, initially set for Feb 18, was postponed to Feb 24.The case has gained fresh momentum after Maharashtra govt approved action under Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994. Following this, SIT chief Ishwar Katkade was appointed as the authorised officer under the Act, addressing procedural objections previously raised by Singh's defence team.Investigators say evidence indicates that illegal kidney transplants were conducted at a private hospital in Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu. Another doctor, Rajarathinam Govindaswamy, is suspected to have collaborated with Singh.Police allege that Singh travelled from Delhi to perform the surgeries and received ₹35 lakh, but he has not provided clear details about how the money was distributed or the broader network involved. Authorities are preparing to request custodial interrogation, arguing that sustained questioning is crucial to uncover the financial trail of the alleged racket and identify other beneficiaries.