Taking serious cognizance of the arrest of a city-based nephroplogist, associated with the reputed Bombay Hospital, for his alleged role in the kidney transplant racket, the Maharashtra government has an sought explanation within the next 48 hours or threatened the suspension of its organ transplant license.

"We have served a notice on Bombay Hospital to explain the alleged role of one of its doctors in the illegal trade of kidneys asking how the doctor carried out operations without their knowledge," Subhhash Salunkhe, the director general of health services told PTI in Mumbai.

The notice comes in the wake of arrest of senior nephrologist Dr Sureshkumar Trivedi for his alleged role in the racket.

"If the hospital fails to give a satisfactory explaination the state government can invoke the provisions of transplantion of human organs act," Salunkhe said.

The hospital's permission to carry out renal transplant operations could stand withdrawn, he added.

Eighteen Mumbai hospitals have a license to carry out kidney transplant operations. "So far there is no report from  the police about the alleged involvement of any other hospital," Salunkhe said.