Forget kidney scam: Bhopal police probe bizarre testicle-selling case after BBA student learns from reels that it can fetch Rs 1.5 crore

A 16-year-old boy was allegedly killed in Bhopal by a group that believed his testicles could be sold for up to Rs 1.5 crore after the alleged mastermind was influenced by a social-media reel making a false claim about the value of human testicles, police said. The alleged mastermind, 20-year-old BBA student Zoheb Khan, reportedly posed as a medical student and directed four others during the crime through a video call. Police said they have found no evidence so far linking the case to an organised organ-trafficking racket, a TOI report stated.

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Two failed attempts before murder

Police said the group made two attempts before allegedly targeting the 16-year-old. In the first attempt, they tried to lure a boy by offering him Rs 100 to help in a fight, but he did not arrive.


During the second attempt, another boy fought back and managed to escape. An attempt-to-murder case was registered following the incident.


On August 6, two minors allegedly approached the 16-year-old at Iqbal Maidan and took him away on the pretext of helping in a fight near Khatlapura.

Teenager stabbed, body parts removed

The group allegedly took the teenager towards Dhobi Ghat, where he was stabbed to death. Police said his testicles were then removed with a blade.

The victim used to sell pens and keyrings around Iqbal Maidan and Moti Masjid, according to police.

His decomposed body was found in Lower Lake near Dhobi Ghat on August 10. A postmortem found fatal injuries and confirmed that the testicles had been removed.

The teenager's identity was established five days later through a tattoo. His mother had reported him missing.

Body parts kept on terrace

Police said the suspects kept the removed body parts packed in ice on a terrace for about two days as they tried to find a buyer.

The alleged plan failed when they could not find anyone willing to buy the organs. Investigators said the suspects also did not know how to preserve or sell the tissue.

Zoheb allegedly later instructed the others to dispose of the body parts in different water bodies.

Divers to search two Bhopal lakes

According to police, the suspects told investigators that the two testicles had been thrown into Upper Lake and Lower Lake.

ACP Santosh Patel, who is leading the investigation, said the suspects have been taken on remand to identify the exact locations where the organs were allegedly dumped. Divers will search the two lakes on Wednesday.

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Police said the depth and poor visibility in the water could make the search difficult. Investigators believe recovering the body parts could help establish what happened and check the suspects' account of the crime.

Accused allegedly posed as doctor

Police said Zoheb allegedly ordered an apron, stethoscope and thermometer online and used them while presenting himself as a doctor to the other suspects.

Investigators suspect he used the items to convince the group and prepare them for the alleged removal of the body parts. Police have seized the items.

No link to organised organ racket found

The alleged plan was based on an Instagram reel that falsely claimed human testicles could be sold for crores in Gulf countries. Police described the claim as a social-media hoax.

Investigators have so far found no connection between the Bhopal case and an organised organ-trafficking network. Police have identified people whom the suspects allegedly contacted to sell the organs and are questioning them to establish whether any transaction was actually planned.

Police said the recovery of the body parts could provide important evidence to establish the sequence of events and verify the statements given by the suspects.