A man allegedly tried to sell his wife’s kidney for Rs 11 lakh, “convincing” her that she was unwell and needed medical treatment. The alleged plan came to light while preparations for the transplant had already begun at a private hospital in Kolkata, the woman claimed.

The woman confided in her relatives, leading to the arrest of her husband and three others, according to the police.

The accused, identified as Kartik Chakraborty, a resident of Nandakumar in Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district, had met Devyani, a woman from the Betkundu area, allegedly during a pathological check-up at a nursing home in Tamluk. The two got married in 2022.

Police said Chakraborty, who runs a pathology business, had allegedly entered into an agreement to sell his wife’s kidney for Rs 11 lakh and had allegedly already received an advance payment of Rs 1.5 lakh from a middleman involved in the deal.

“We have arrested four persons in connection with the case. The investigation is on,” a police official said.

The hospital at which preparations had allegedly begun is reputed, and Devyani had been listed as a donor, she claimed.

The police are now investigating who facilitated the transplant arrangements and whether a larger racket is involved.