District Judge P S Teji paved the way for the trial of Amit Kumar by framing charges against him saying the Enforcement Directorate has brought sufficient material to show that properties acquired by him were the proceeds of crime, kidney transplant racket, as defined under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering (PML) Act.
"A prima facie charge under section 3 punishable under section 4 of PML Act is made out against accused Amit Kumar. Accordingly, charges under sections of PML Act against accused Amit Kumar framed...," the court said.
It framed charges under the PML Act after Amit, who is lodged in Ambala Jail, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
It said there is material on record to show that Amit along with his other associates was actively involved in illegal kidney transplantation and he was running a hospital where the surgeries were carried out.
"The complainant/Directorate of Enforcement has brought sufficient material on record to show that Amit along with his other associates was actively involved in illegal kidney transplantation. It has also been shown that he was running a hospital where illegal kidney transplantation was being carried out and he used to carry out surgeries along with his associates," the judge said.
The multi-crore rupee scandal had surfaced in January 2008 when police had arrested several people for running a kidney transplant racket in Gurgaon. Amit was arrested in Nepal in February 2008.
The ED, in its charge sheet filed through Special Public Prosecutor Naveen K Matta, has said that Amit and his accomplices used to charge Rs 12 to 15 lakh on average from the native organ recipients and USD 25,000 to USD 30,000 from foreign clients. The ED accused them of stashing an undisclosed amount in foreign banks. (MORE) PTI SKV RKS RT