Medical students summoned for questioning in blood bank scam in Bengal

Several students from at least two medical colleges and hospitals in Kolkata were summoned by the Swastha Bhawan (State Health Department Headquarters) in relation to a blood smuggling scam in West Bengal. The fourth-year medical students faced questioning on Wednesday (August 26, 2026) at the health department. 

At least four students from the National Medical College and Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College appeared before a committee of the West Bengal health department for questioning in connection with the blood smuggling scam. 

State Health Minister Dr. Sharadwat Mukherjee said that their officials are still investigating the irregularities. “In many places, there is a mismatch of documents. There is a case in court, so we will not comment more on this at the moment,” Dr. Mukherjee said. 

According to sources, these medical students were disguised as doctors and were taken to medical and blood donation camps, which helped facilitate the scam. Reportedly, senior medical students had an arrangement with private blood banks to run this racket, for which they took a monetary commission. 

Meanwhile, at least three laboratory technicians have also been arrested from Panskura, Purba Medinipur district by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for their alleged involvement in the blood selling racket. Previously, the police had also arrested a tout who helped to operate this racket. 

The tout used to buy the blood donor cards from local clubs for Rs 100-150 each and then collect free blood from blood banks and sell it to families of patients for ₹1,500-₹2,000 per unit. The collected money was distributed among all stakeholders in this racket, according to sources. 

Two weeks back, the State health officials uncovered a blood selling scam in the State which led to at least six blood banks being under the scanner and at least 11 were asked to stop organising blood donation scams. 

The sale of blood is prohibited under the National Blood Policy, which was introduced in 2002. 

According to the health department officials, in multiple blood camps, especially in the districts, donors were offered incentives for donating blood. Which is illegal under the National Blood Policy. 

Then several units of both blood and plasma were sold to states outside West Bengal. The authorities are now exploring a multi-state scam which is suspected to be worth crores. 

Since then, several blood banks, including a few reputed organisations have been raided by the State health department officials.