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Home  » News » I am a cardiovascular surgeon, Dr Horror told Canadian neighbours

I am a cardiovascular surgeon, Dr Horror told Canadian neighbours

By Ajit Jain in Toronto
Last updated on: February 04, 2008 19:38 IST
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Dr Amit Kumar, the alleged ring leader of the Gurgaon kidney racket, reportedly has a house in suburban Brampton, north-west of Toronto. Brampton has the largest concentration of Indo-Canadians in the country.

A front-page banner line report in Sunday's Toronto Star reveals that Kumar's wife  Poonam Ameet, 28, and two sons aged 5 and 4, live on Pali Drive in Brampton.  The report also reveals that Kumar, dubbed Dr Horror by the Indian media, bought this home last year for $610,000.

The Canadian daily reported that nobody seems to be inside the house as all windows and curtains are drawn with no response from inside when reporters knocked on the front door on Sunday.

Another published report reveals Kumar received his Ontario driving license on January 4, 2006.

A number of neighbours are acquainted with Kumar, as he visited Canada during the Christmas holidays. Kumar, who drove a $65,000 rental Lexus SUV 350 during his stay here, told people that he was a cardiovascular surgeon with patients around the world.

He reportedly told one neighbour that he was going back to India to wind up his business which, " included a hotel, a hospital and several clinics'.

According to the report, Kumar told a neighbour that he  "planned to open a hotel in Canada upon his return and was going to live and work here permanently."

However, after the kidney scam was unearthed last week, a glass security door was installed at the front entrance of the Kumars' residence and their home telephone had a taped message saying service 'is temporarily disconnected.'

Indian newspapers have widely reported that Kumar is allegedly the ring leader of a group of doctors, nurses and some hospital staff, who duped or coerced over 400-500 people and removed their kidneys. These were then sold to rich patients in India and abroad.

Police Superintendent from Gurgaon, Mohinder Lal, has told Canadian reporters that the kidney scam was unearthed on January 24. A warrant has been issued against Amit Kumar and the Interpol has also issued a 'red alert'.

The Toronto Star has quoted an Interpol spokesperson as having said that no arrest has been made in the case so far.

Peel Regional Police (Brampton is part of the Peel Region) reportedly acknowledged on Sunday that they were involved in the hunt for Kumar, as were other Greater Toronto Area police forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

A spokesman of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reportedly said they had limited information about the Indian investigation, but Indian police had been in touch with them through the Interpol.

According to the report, four doctors, five nurses, 20 paramedics, three private hospitals, 10 pathology clinics and five diagnostic centers have been implicated in this scam.

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Ajit Jain in Toronto