Pune, May 29, 2025 — In a major development that has further tarnished the credibility of the state’s medical oversight system, Dr. Ajay Taware, already under arrest in the infamous Pune Porsche crash case, has now been apprehended for his alleged involvement in a kidney transplant racket operating out of Ruby Hall Clinic.
Dr. Taware, who formerly served as the medical superintendent at Sassoon General Hospital, was taken into custody by the Pune city crime branch while being held at Yerwada Central Jail. His arrest marks a new chapter in the unraveling scandal, as he had also chaired the Regional Authorisation Committee for organ transplants during the time of the alleged illegal activity in 2022.
The transplant racket first came to light in mid-2022 when a woman from Kolhapur lodged a complaint, stating that she had been promised ₹15 lakh to impersonate the wife of a kidney patient, thereby facilitating a transplant. According to investigators, the real donor was the complainant’s mother, who underwent surgery based on falsified documentation presented to the approval committee.
Authorities had booked 15 individuals in connection with the case, including key staff members and trustees of Ruby Hall Clinic. It is now believed that Dr. Taware, in his capacity as the head of the transplant approval committee, had cleared the fraudulent documentation without due diligence, enabling the illegal procedure.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Mr. Nikhil Pingale, confirmed the arrest, stating that Dr. Taware would be produced in court later today. “He is now formally under arrest in the kidney racket case,” said DCP Pingale. “Our investigations are ongoing, and more details will be uncovered.”
This arrest adds to Dr. Taware’s existing legal troubles. He had earlier been accused of manipulating evidence in the high-profile Porsche crash case that rocked the city in 2024. That incident involved a 17-year-old boy who, while allegedly under the influence of alcohol, drove his luxury vehicle at high speed through Kalyani Nagar, resulting in the deaths of two young IT professionals. It was later revealed that Dr. Taware had tampered with the teen’s blood sample, allegedly under external pressure, in an attempt to shield the minor from criminal prosecution.
In the aftermath of both scandals, questions are being raised about systemic failures within government and private medical institutions, particularly regarding ethical oversight in organ transplants. The dual involvement of a senior medical officer in both a criminal cover-up and a transplant racket has provoked public outrage and led to renewed demands for tighter regulatory controls.
As further inquiries are expected to unfold, the Maharashtra Medical Council and the state health department are likely to face increased scrutiny. Legal experts are now calling for not only stricter auditing of transplant approvals but also criminal accountability for medical professionals found complicit in unethical practices.
The twin cases involving Dr. Taware have exposed severe cracks in the systems meant to uphold justice and medical ethics. As the courts and investigating authorities proceed, citizens and patients alike wait for reassurance that those entrusted with safeguarding lives are not endangering them through corruption and negligence.
