Three nephrologists at the Indraprashtha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi are likely to be questioned by the Delhi Police in connection with the transplant surgeries performed under their supervision which were facilitated by the kidney racket in which 12 persons have been arrested so far. The names of the three doctors emerged during the interrogation of the racket’s kingpin Rajkumar Rao, who was allegedly operating in several states and is believed to have links with similar cartels in other countries, a senior police official said. One of the three senior doctors, currently in the US, was to return on Thursday but did not. Two of his personal assistants were the first to be arrested in connection with the racket. A police team has been deployed at IGI airport to keep check on the doctor’s return, the official said. During investigation, police found blank papers signed by the doctor, which were allegedly used by his assistants to complete the formalities to facilitate kidney transplant surgeries at the hospital.

A personal assistant of another senior doctor too was detained by police on Friday and the nephrologist’s role is under scanner now.

The name of the third doctor emerged after the police came across a donor linked to the racket. The suspicion of his involvement grew after his name cropped up during Rao’s interrogation. Police are already investigating his assistant’s role, the official added.

Police are likely to send notice in a day asking all three of them to join the probe.

Similar notices were earlier issued to five senior officials of the hospital, including the head of the 10-member internal assessment committee for transplant surgeries.

Twelve people, including two personal assistants of a nephrologist, several middlemen and donors, besides the kingpin have been arrested in connection with the racket so far.