Kolkata, August 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The West Bengal Police’s anti-corruption wing has arrested three laboratory technicians attached to a state-run hospital in East Midnapore district for allegedly selling blood obtained through donor cards at inflated prices.
The accused are posted at Panskura Super Speciality Hospital, though police have not disclosed their identities. Investigators suspect that the three may be part of a larger racket and are questioning them to establish the extent of the alleged operation.
According to a state police official, the accused allegedly targeted blood donation camps organised by clubs and voluntary organisations. They would allegedly purchase donor cards from organisers for Rs 100 to Rs 150 each and use them to collect blood units free of cost from government blood banks.
The blood was then allegedly sold at premium prices to relatives of patients who urgently required transfusions. Police said the price allegedly depended on the blood group, with rarer groups fetching higher amounts.
The three technicians allegedly shared the proceeds among themselves. Investigators are now examining the possible involvement of other individuals and are also looking into organisations that conduct blood donation camps.
The arrests come amid wider scrutiny of irregularities in blood banks in West Bengal. Earlier this month, the Calcutta High Court directed the state Health Department to complete its investigation into 11 private blood banks accused of serious irregularities, including the alleged illegal sale of blood and plasma to other states.
The Health Department had also barred the 11 private blood banks from conducting blood donation camps across the state until further orders. One of the banks challenged the order before the High Court, where Justice Krishna Rao set a timeline for the completion of the ongoing probe.
The latest case is under investigation, and police are examining the alleged financial transactions, donor cards, blood-bank records and possible links to a wider network.
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