Hyderabad Police Crack Down on Illegal IVF Scam: 25 Arrested, Nine Cases Filed

Quick Summary

• The Gopalapuram police (North Zone) in Telangana have so far arrested 25 individuals in an inquiry into an alleged illegal surrogacy adn baby-selling racket.
• The operation has ties to Universal Srushti Fertility Centres, located in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, which were raided in July.
• Investigators claim the prime accused, athaluri Namratha (64), operated the clinics without valid licenses and conducted embryo creation and implantation procedures illegally.
• Allegedly, Namratha, her son Pachipala Jayanth Krishna (25), and associates lured childless couples into fraudulent surrogacy schemes costing ₹20-30 lakh.Babies were bought from women coerced into unwanted pregnancies for money and handed over using fake documents.
• Nine cases have been registered thus far as new complaints are still emerging; investigations suggest more victims are likely to come forward.
• A Hyderabad couple was a key whistleblower when DNA tests on a baby given to them revealed no biological relation. The newborn’s biological parents were identified as Assamese migrants who have also been arrested.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The uncovering of this large-scale operation raises critical concerns about regulatory oversight within India’s fertility clinics and surrogacy industry. Despite stringent legal frameworks like the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act enacted to prevent exploitation, this case underscores instances where loopholes or lack of enforcement undermine their intent.

additionally, the demand-driven nature of such fraudulent schemes highlights societal pressures childless couples face-a factor that might potentially be fueling unethical practices disguised as fertility treatments. Moving forward,stricter monitoring mechanisms for licensing procedures at fertility centers appear imperative alongside broader public awareness campaigns on lawful medical options available.

This case also points toward ethical challenges tied to economic vulnerabilities; women coerced into unwanted pregnancies indicate deeper socio-economic issues at play demanding broader policy interventions.

Read more: Illegal Surrogacy Racket Busted