A widening kidney trafficking scandal has brought intense scrutiny upon Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Hospital, a prominent private healthcare chain in Tamil Nadu, over its alleged role in conducting illegal kidney transplants involving trafficked organs from poor women. The hospital’s political links, particularly through DMK MLA Kathiravan, son of the hospital’s founder Srinivasan, have sparked allegations of systemic protection and deliberate obstruction of regulatory action.
DMK MLA’s Hospital at Centre of Organ Trafficking Network
According to investigations initiated following a regional news exposé, over 90 women, most of them daily wage laborers from Pallipalayam and Kumarapalayam in Namakkal district, were targeted by a kidney trafficking network that facilitated illegal transplants at Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Hospital in Perambalur and Siddhar Hospital in Trichy.
The racket allegedly used forged Aadhaar cards and medical documents to carry out surgeries on women lured with offers of ₹5 to ₹10 lakh. In some cases, victims were reportedly coerced into agreeing to the transplants under financial and social pressure.
At the heart of the operation is M. Anandan, a 52-year-old DMK party speaker from Anampalayam Perur, known locally as “Dravida Anandan.” He is accused of brokering the kidney deals and transporting women to the hospitals. Anandan is currently absconding, and police have recovered forged documents, fake government seals, and official uniforms from his locked residence in Pallipalayam.
Political Shield Alleged
The Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Group, which operates hospitals and medical colleges across Tamil Nadu, has been mired in multiple controversies in the past, including allegations of wrongful treatment, trainee doctors attending patients unsupervised, and deaths due to inadequate care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, no significant penalties or legal action have materialized, a fact many attribute to the political influence of DMK MLA Kathiravan, who represents Mannachanallur.
Local sources claim the hospital’s political clout has prevented the establishment of a government medical college hospital in Perambalur, despite the project being announced over 12 years ago. The suspicion is that the private hospital chain actively blocked progress on the government facility to avoid competition, leveraging its MLA ties to do so.
In a show of apparent public service, the hospital reportedly offers free treatment to residents of Kathiravan’s constituency and holds annual free medical camps. However, recent allegations suggest that these medical camps may have served as cover for illegal organ harvesting, raising fresh concerns about the ethics and operations of the institution.
Fake Patient Setup, Regulatory Evasion
Insiders have revealed that when national-level inspection teams visited the hospital, staff were instructed to bring villagers — particularly pregnant women — by bus and stage them as patients to meet regulatory expectations. These women were allegedly paid ₹800 a day to pose as patients. Meanwhile, hospital records reportedly showed inflated patient data and procedures, raising questions about fraud and misreporting.
A prominent display board at the hospital boasts of having conducted over 200 kidney transplants, which, in the current context, has only amplified public anxiety.
Victim Testimony – Aadhar Tampering
In an interview with News Tamil 24×7, a victim detailed how his worsening financial condition led him into the hands of what appears to be an organ trade network operating through private hospitals.
According to the victim, the ordeal began when he was discussing his debt problems with acquaintances at a local tea shop. “Even a ₹5,000 loan would attract ₹250 in interest. I couldn’t keep up with it,” he said, adding that he was struggling to cover basic expenses. During the conversation, an unidentified individual approached him and suggested a way to “solve” his problems by visiting a hospital for a “procedure.”
He was subsequently taken to Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Hospital in Perambalur district. There, he said, he handed over his Aadhaar card, which bore his original address in Pallipalayam, Namakkal district. However, he later discovered that a different Aadhaar card, with altered address details, had been used for official documentation, raising concerns of identity tampering and falsification.
He stated that he was provided with a private room and ₹1,000 per day for expenses during his hospital stay. Following the surgery, he was allegedly paid ₹5 lakhs by intermediaries who arranged the operation. He described the presence of brokers, who instructed him on where to sit, what to wear, and how to respond during hospital formalities.
“I didn’t know my Aadhaar details were being changed. I just gave them my card. The doctor said everything would be fine,” Bagir said. He emphasized that the decision to undergo the procedure was not made lightly, but out of desperation due to spiraling debt and lack of support. “I couldn’t bear the financial pressure. This felt like the only way.”
The victim also alleged that no government authorities had contacted him after the incident. “They should be coming to help people like us, but we are left to deal with middlemen.”
The organ trafficking case, first exposed by News Tamil, has prompted a government-level probe involving the Health, Revenue, and Police Departments. A complaint has been lodged by Dr. Veeramani, medical officer at Pallipalayam Government Hospital, against Anandan. The investigation team led by Namakkal Joint Director of Health Services Dr. Rajmohan and instructed by District Collector Durga Moorthy has been actively pursuing leads but has yet to apprehend the main accused.
Tamil Nadu Health Minister M. Subramanian condemned the incident, reiterating that only voluntary organ donation is legal in the state. He promised strict action against all those involved.
Despite the growing evidence, police officials acknowledge that many victims are hesitant to file formal complaints due to fear, stigma, and possible retaliation. This reluctance may impede legal action against those operating behind the scenes, including hospital administrators and middlemen.
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