Medical students summoned for questioning in blood bank scam in Bengal

Several fourth-year medical students from National Medical College and Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College in Kolkata were summoned by the State Health Department in connection with a blood smuggling scam in West Bengal. They appeared before a committee of the health department for questioning on Wednesday (August 26, 2026). According to State Health Minister Dr. Sharadwat Mukherjee, officials are still investigating the irregularities, stating that there are mismatches of documents and a case is currently in court.

The students were allegedly disguised as doctors and taken to medical and blood donation camps to facilitate the scam. Senior medical students had an arrangement with private blood banks to run this racket, receiving a monetary commission for their involvement. At least three laboratory technicians have been arrested from Panskura, Purba Medinipur district for their alleged role in the blood selling racket.

The tout who helped operate the scam was also arrested and sold blood donor cards to local clubs for Rs 100-150 each. The collected money was then distributed among all stakeholders in the racket. The National Blood Policy prohibits the sale of blood, and the health department has uncovered a multi-state scam worth crores, with several blood banks being raided by the State health department officials.