SDM-led sting busts illegal blood trade in Satna:₹4,500-per-unit deal at district hospital, 3 brokers arrested; police probe deeper links after sting

In Satna, City SDM Rahul Siladiya conducted a sting operation on Thursday against people involved in illegal blood brokerage. With the help of the police, three brokers were caught red-handed. The accused had agreed to arrange one unit of blood for ₹4,500. A team from Bhaskar also assisted the city SDM during in the sting. The police are now investigating how the entire network was operating. This crackdown has exposed the situation at the district hospital, especially after a shocking case in which five thalassaemia-affected children were allegedly given HIV-positive blood. See the pictures of the sting operation… Know how the sting operation was planned On Thursday afternoon, around 1 pm, SDM Rahul Siladiya reached the police outpost at the district hospital and informed the police about plans to catch blood brokers. In the presence of police personnel and a Bhaskar reporter, a detailed plan was prepared. The SDM counted the currency notes in front of the camera, and their serial numbers were recorded by the Bhaskar team. These notes were then handed over to a dummy buyer, who was sent to nearby shopkeepers outside the hospital. Police teams were instructed to keep a close watch. Within a short time, the police detained one person. SDM Siladiya reached the spot, and soon three brokers were caught. When the first accused was searched, the same currency notes—whose serial numbers had been recorded earlier—were recovered from his pocket. ₹4,500 deal for one unit of blood During the investigation, it emerged that some paan and fruit vendors around the hospital were involved in the racket. A dummy buyer, posing as a patient’s relative, was sent to tea and paan shops outside the hospital. One paan vendor directed him to a fruit vendor, claiming he could arrange blood. The fruit vendor agreed to arrange blood for ₹4,500. The dummy buyer returned, after which the SDM handed him ₹4,500—including ₹500, ₹200 and ₹100 notes. The serial numbers were again recorded, and a hidden camera was placed in the buyer’s pocket to record the conversation. When the dummy buyer reached the broker, he was told to wait as the donor was on the way. Without waiting any longer, the police team present at the spot caught the broker, who identified himself as Rajneesh Sahu, a resident of Jaitwara. Another broker caught inside the hospital After this, SDM Siladiya arrived at the spot and questioned the dummy buyer about who had directed him to the broker. Based on this, the team arrested Mohammad Kaif, who had sent the buyer to the broker. Following these arrests, a patient’s relative informed the police that another person inside the hospital was also involved in blood brokerage. A police team then entered the hospital and detained Anil Gupta, who was taken to the police station for questioning. Police probing deeper links in the case Police officials said three brokers were caught during the sting operation. The accused had been active around the district hospital for a long time, illegally arranging blood for patients and their families. The police are now trying to find out whether a larger gang is involved and whether there are any links to hospital staff or the blood bank.