Two persons were arrested on Thursday evening for allegedly selling blood from the Red Cross Society.

According to the society’s rules, blood is given only if an equivalent unit is donated. For this an amount of Rs 300 has to be paid. In case a donor is not available, blood cannot be obtained.

Amrendra Thakur (50), an official of the society, and Omprakash Chaudhary (40), a compounder at a local nursing home, were caught for accepting Rs 1,300 in exchange for blood from an attendant, who could not arrange for a donor.

Acting on a tip-off Sadar sub-divisional officer Raj Kumar conducted a raid along with the police on the blood bank unit. “We had received complaints about illegal sale of blood. It appears that such illegal business was going on for quite some time,” Kumar said.

An extortion case was lodged against the two by medical officer in-charge of Red Cross Society Dr N.K. Rai. He said: “We are not authorised to sell blood. According to the provision, we can only offer blood on reciprocal basis, for which we charge Rs 300.” Station house officer of Khazanchi Haat police station Arbind Kumar said: “Thakur and Chaudhary were arrested and sent to jail on Friday after they were produced in the court.”