Bengal blood racket: Medical students quizzed as probe widens
West Bengal health officials question medical students from two Kolkata colleges over a blood smuggling racket; three lab technicians arrested.
The West Bengal health department has summoned fourth-year medical students from at least two Kolkata institutions for questioning in connection with a widening blood smuggling scandal. Students from the National Medical College and Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College appeared before a departmental committee on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
State Health Minister Dr. Sharadwat Mukherjee confirmed that the investigation into irregularities is ongoing. He noted discrepancies in documentation at several locations but refrained from detailed comment, citing an active court case.
Sources indicate that the students allegedly posed as doctors at medical and blood donation camps to facilitate the racket. It is believed that senior students had arrangements with private blood banks, receiving monetary commissions for their participation.
In a related development, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested three laboratory technicians in Panskura, Purba Medinipur district for their alleged involvement. This follows the earlier arrest of a tout who reportedly purchased donor cards from local clubs for Rs 100-150 each. The tout would then collect free blood from banks and sell it to patients' families for Rs 1,500-2,000 per unit, with proceeds distributed among those involved.
The scandal came to light two weeks ago when state health officials discovered the illegal sale of blood, which is prohibited under the National Blood Policy of 2002. At least six blood banks are under scrutiny, and eleven have been directed to stop organising donation camps.
Investigators have found that donors were offered incentives at camps, particularly in districts, which violates the National Blood Policy. Further, several units of blood and plasma were reportedly sold to entities outside West Bengal, leading authorities to suspect a multi-state operation potentially worth crores. Raids have been conducted on several blood banks, including some reputed organisations, as the investigation continues.