Dr Horror pleads innocence; Nepal police say ready to hand him over

Kathmandu, Feb 8 (UNI) The Nepal police today indicated that the mastermind behind the multi-crore kidney racket, Dr Amit Kumar, who was arrested here yesterday, could soon be handed over to Indian authorities even as he claimed he was innocent.

''I am just a doctor and not a kidney dealer. I will reveal all the truth after my release... I have not committed any crime,'' Dr Kumar said, when Nepal police presented him at a press conference here.

Nepal police said the doctor can be handed over to Indian authorities once he is presented to the court on Sunday.

''He can be deported (handed over) to India once he is presented before the court,'' television reports quoted Senior Superintendent of Police of the Metropolitan Police Crime Division Upendra Kant Aryal as saying.

Nepal police said they plan to lodge three cases against the kidney scam kingpin, including charges under the foreign exchange regulation act.

Cases will be filed against Dr Kumar on Sunday after carrying out necessary procedures for the charges relating to human organ transplant and the Interpol red-corner notice against him, Mr Aryal had told mediapersons at Ranipokhari Dr Kumar -- widely called Dr Horror by the media -- was arrested with a close aide Manish Singh from a Sauraha-based hotel in Chitwan district about 60 km from the Indian border town of Raxaul. Rs 9,36,000 in Indian currency, 1,45,000 euros and 18,900 US dollars were seized from the Indian doctor's possession.

The SSP said Dr Kumar x x x x Eds: Picking up from para five DF 25 ''CRIME-KIDNEY RACKET-LEAD KINGPIN'' UNI XC-VD HT2242