Kidneys on sale with UPI payment! Telangana organ racket turns out to be a cybercrime

The Crime Investigation Department (CID) in Telangana has busted a racket in which some people were found selling kidneys, with UPI payment as an option. However, later it was found that the cybercriminals were not even offering kidneys.

The group, created by unknown individuals, was found advertising kidneys for sale with UPI as one of the payment options, reported the Times of India.

Meanwhile, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in Telangana has ordered an investigation into the case.


The case came to light after a complaint was lodged by a city-based NGO. The charges include violations of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act as well as the Information Technology Act.

As per preliminary investigations, there is no real organ trade taking place. It appears to be a case of cybercrime, where someone is attempting to deceive people. A senior CID official stated, "The investigation is still ongoing, and we are determining if anyone has fallen victim to this fraud and suffered any losses." The police are also exploring the possibility of an organized gang exploiting the desperation of organ donors or seekers through this platform.

The NGO declined to comment, citing the early stage of the police investigation. Previous cases of illegal kidney trade have been reported, with the Telangana police registering charges in June 2023 against an organized gang involved in illegal kidney transplantation in Sri Lanka in 2016. In another incident in 2021, a couple who wished to donate an organ were defrauded by a Nigerian gang they contacted through a website. They lost nearly 40 lakh and subsequently filed a complaint with the Hyderabad Central Crime Station.