Moradabad SSP Prem Prakash told Newsline: “Agarwal said he came from Alwar whenever Kumar called him for a surgery.” It was revealed that Agarwal, who was arrested from Alwar on February 2, had helped Kumar conduct a surgery even hours before the Moradabad police raided his three-storeyed house in Gurgaon’s Sector 23. Dr Agarwal’s police remand ended on Sunday and he is now in Muradabad jail. The remand of another key accused and a close associate of Dr Amit Kumar, Dr Upender Kumar, also ended on Sunday. He was in custody from January 24.

Meanwhile in Delhi, the Crime Branch is smarting at Dr Amit Kumar’s driver Harpal’s disclosure yesterday that certain police officers had taken hush money not to expose the kidney racket.

Harpal had told the Gurgaon police that police men in plainclothes had detained Dr Amit Kumar and Dr Upender Kumar in the first week of January. The officers had introduced themselves as the Delhi police and had also taken the two to their office in the New Delhi area. Harpal has also said the two doctors were let off after they paid Rs 18 lakh to these officers.

The Delhi police has got in touch with both SSP, Moradabad and the Gurgaon Commissioner for more details on this. Delhi police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said, “Till now, we have no evidence that crime branch officers colluded with the doctors. If there is any truth in this, strict action will be taken against the officers.” Officers of the Gurgaon and Moradabad police spent only a few mandatory words on this. While Prem Prakash said he would not like to comment, Gurgaon Commissioner Mohinder Lal confirmed Harpal had made such an accusation.