India, April 7 -- KANPUR The illegal kidney transplant racket that recently sent shockwaves through the city's medical community has revealed a sinister new dimension: its foundations were built on organised cybercrime. Police investigations have uncovered that the syndicate utilised Telegram and WhatsApp groups, initially disguised as online gaming platforms, to systematically groom, financially ruin and eventually coerce potential donors onto the operating table.

The disclosure adds a new dimension to a case that has already exposed the involvement of doctors, OT technicians and hospital operators across the city.

DCP (west) SM Qasim Abidi said the cyber connection emerged during the course of the investigation. "This transplant racke...