Indian authorities following money trail of the man dubbed 'Dr. Horror'

THE CANADIAN PRESS
NEW DELHI - Federal investigators in India are reportedly trying to follow the money trail left by the alleged kingpin of an international kidney transplant ring who once lived in Canada.

India media reports say the Central Bureau of Investigation has begun the process of sending letters to Canada, Greece and Turkey to find out where Amit Kumar has money, property and patients.

A senior bureau official told the Press Trust of India that letters will be sent through the court and through India's External Affairs Ministry to these countries to find out more about the man the Indian media have dubbed "Dr. Horror".

Earlier this week, the 40-year-old Kumar, who lived in Brampton, Ont., with his wife and two children as recently as December, was remanded in judicial custody until March 26.

Kumar is accused of masterminding the multimillion-dollar racket that harvested kidneys from up to 500 people - many of them unwilling donors who were tricked or forced at gunpoint - and transplanted them into wealthy foreigners who travelled to India over the past nine years in search of cheap medical care.

The Indian-born doctor, who is charged with causing grievous hurt, illegal confinement, cheating, criminal conspiracy and violating the 1994 Transplantation of Human Organs Act, was arrested Feb. 7 in Nepal after an international manhunt.

© The Canadian Press, 2008