Home / Crime and Justice / Jharkhand Blood Bank HIV Scare: Arrest Made
Jharkhand Blood Bank HIV Scare: Arrest Made
19 Apr
Summary
- Five minors with thalassemia were infected with HIV via blood transfusion.
- An arrest was made in Jharkhand following a court order for an FIR.
- Families face stigma and hardship due to the children's HIV diagnosis.
A man has been arrested in Jharkhand's Chaibasa district, nearly six months after five minors with thalassemia were allegedly infected with HIV through blood transfusions. The incident, which occurred in October 2025, involved children receiving blood from the Chaibasa Sadar Hospital's blood bank.
The alleged transmission of HIV-infected blood came to light after one child tested positive for the virus. A subsequent investigation by Jharkhand Health Services confirmed that four other minors had also contracted HIV. This prompted the families to seek legal recourse.
After the Jharkhand High Court directed the police to register an FIR, a case was filed in February against Manoj Prasad, a former employee of the hospital's blood bank. He is accused of involvement in the transfusion of infected blood to the children.
The arrest of Prasad occurred two months after the FIR was filed. Investigators are continuing their work, examining evidence for the involvement of other staff members and potential systemic failures within the blood bank. Registers containing donor information have been seized for the ongoing court proceedings.
Victims' families have spoken out about the challenges they face, including alleged attempts to tamper with evidence and social stigma. One father reported being forced to leave his rented accommodation due to his child's condition and has not received adequate support from the district administration for housing. The children have also been unable to attend school for six months.
Another parent expressed frustration over the lack of conclusive investigation reports from state and central government agencies, questioning when the responsible parties will be identified for the harm caused to their children.
