Inside kidney kingpin’s mansion

The wife and two young sons of Dr Amit Kumar, the kingpin of the illegal kidney transplant racket operating out of Gurgaon, are holed up in their sprawling house in Brampton, a predominantly Indian neighbourhood on the outskirts of Toronto.

No one answered the door at the snow-laden home located on Pali Drive in Brampton but children could be seen peeking through the window coverings. The glass security door at the entrance was found locked and a bundle of newspapers and advertising fliers outside indicated that no one has stepped in or out of the house in the last couple of days.

Dr Kumar and his wife Poonam Ameet Kumar bought the 5,600-sq-feet home in Brampton city on February 2, 2007. The property was priced at CDN $610,000 (about Rs 2.5 crores). Dr Kumar took a loan of $457,500 from the Royal Bank of Canada to purchase the property and the remaining amount was paid in cash. Documents obtained by HT reveal that a person named Vijay Kumar Sharma exercised the power of attorney on Dr Kumar’s behalf to purchase the property.

The centrally air-conditioned house overlooks a duck pond and boasts of over $100,000 in upgrades — including granite kitchen counter tops, stainless appliances and a ravine view with an in-ground saltwater pool, a hot tub, a Cabana and a wet bar.

Kumar’s two sons, aged 5 and 4, attended a local private school and he owned a Lexus 350 SUV priced at CDN $65,000.

To the unsuspecting neighbours, Dr Kumar introduced himself as a very well known heart surgeon based in India with a worldwide clientele. He would often travel to India for work and would bring back gifts and souvenirs for the neighbours.

He told the neighbours that he was winding up his “business” — that included hospitals, clinics and a hotel — in India. He said he wanted to buy a hotel in Canada and shift permanently.

While the Delhi and Gurgaon police have indicated that Dr Kumar may have fled to Nepal, en route to Canada, there is no word from the Canadian authorities on the matter. The local police said that the case was being handled by the Royal Mounted Canadian Police (the country’s central police force), which is yet to make a statement.

“We are completely shocked,” a neighbour was quoted by The Toronto Star as saying. “I was shocked, blown away,” said a neighbour. “We used to joke at parties that he must be loaded to get such a beautiful wife, but nothing prepared us for this.” Another neighbour said: “It’s very unusual for someone to come here from India and buy a big house like this and a Lexus. Doctors in India just don't make that kind of money.”

Meanwhile, Canadian authorities were working closely with Indian counterparts to track the doctor who is believed to be using at least six forged identities and passports. Canadian authorities will also have to look into that how could Dr Kumar got through the stringent immigration process with a forged identity.

News Source : Samachar