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Pune, May 30, 2025:
A prominent Pune doctor, already in jail for his alleged role in tampering with evidence in the infamous Porsche crash case, has now been arrested for his alleged involvement in an illegal kidney transplant racket at Ruby Hall Clinic, one of the city’s leading private hospitals.
Arrest Linked to 2022 Kidney Transplant Scandal
Dr. Ajay Taware, the former head of the Forensic Medicine department at Sassoon General Hospital, was taken into custody by the Pune crime branch on Thursday. This arrest comes as part of an ongoing investigation into a kidney transplant racket that came to light at Ruby Hall Clinic in 2022.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nikhil Pingale, Dr. Taware will be produced before the court in connection with the case. He was reportedly the chairman of the eight-member Regional Authorisation Committee (RAC) responsible for approving kidney transplants at the time the illegal activities occurred.
Details of the Racket
The scandal first surfaced in 2022 when a woman from Kolhapur, allegedly promised Rs 15 lakh, posed as the wife of a kidney transplant recipient to facilitate an illegal organ donation. In a swap arrangement, the young woman’s mother donated her kidney to the man, while the Kolhapur woman donated hers to the young woman. Such swaps are typically legal when performed between relatives in cases of blood group mismatches, but the use of fake identities and financial inducements rendered this operation illegal.
The truth emerged just four days after the surgery when the woman revealed her real identity following a dispute over the promised payment.
Broader Investigation and Previous Controversy
Dr. Taware’s arrest adds to his legal troubles, as he is already serving time in Yerwada Central Jail for allegedly tampering with blood samples in the high-profile Kalyani Nagar Porsche crash case, which involved a 17-year-old boy and resulted in two fatalities.
The kidney transplant case initially saw 15 individuals, including hospital staff and the managing trustee, booked for malpractice. Dr. Taware was recently named a co-accused after a police reinvestigation revealed his key role in the authorisation process.
What’s Next?
Authorities are continuing their probe into the full extent of the kidney racket, which has raised serious concerns about the oversight of organ transplant procedures in private hospitals.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information reported by Medical Dialogues and other media sources as of May 30, 2025. The details are subject to ongoing investigation, and all accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. For the latest updates, please refer to official statements and court proceedings.
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