Latest news with #AssistedReproductiveTechnologyAct
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Illegal human egg trading racket busted in Hyderabad; two held
Hyderabad, Aug 15 (PTI) A major racket of commercial surrogacy and 'illegal" human egg trading allegedly operated by a network of seven women and a man in 'collusion" with several fertility centres in Hyderabad was busted here, Cyberabad Police said on Friday. Two agents—a woman (45) and her son (27), were arrested in connection with the racket and notices were issued to six donors, surrogate mothers, police said. The accused were exploiting childless couples for illegal monetary gain, a release from Cyberabad Police said. Acting on reliable information, a special police team on Friday conducted a raid on a premises under Pet-Basheerabad Police Station limits in the presence of the District Medical and Health Officer and during the operation, the two accused persons were apprehended, it said. The ongoing investigation revealed that the prime accused, the woman agent, had earlier worked as an egg donor and surrogate mother, police said. Using her experience and network of contacts with other agents, fertility clinics, and centres, she began recruiting women to act as egg donors or surrogate mothers and referred them to the different fertility centres. For each successful procedure, she collected substantial amounts. She targeted financially vulnerable women, persuaded them to donate eggs or become surrogates, and kept them at her residence, collecting additional maintenance charges from the hospitals, the release said. Her son, a Chemical Engineering graduate, assisted her in running the illegal business, which served as their sole source of income, police said. The donors and surrogate mothers involved were aware that commercial surrogacy is prohibited by law but were part of it for financial gain. The alleged involvement of the fertility clinics and centres is still under investigation. A case was registered against the accused under relevant sections of Surrogacy Regulation Act, Assisted Reproductive Technology Act and BNS Act. Efforts were underway to identify and apprehend other persons connected to the illegal racket. PTI SJR SJR KH view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- The Hindu
Commercial surrogacy, illegal egg trading racket busted in Medchal; prime accused was surrogate mother earlier
Cyberabad's Petbasheerabad police arrested a group of eight persons, including two agents and six women who were egg donors or surrogate mothers, for running a commercial surrogacy and illegal human egg trading racket in Medchal. The police identified the prime accused as Narreddula Laxmi Reddy of Chilakaluripeta, Andhra Pradesh, and her son, Narender Reddy, a chemical engineering graduate from JNTU, who is accused of assisting her in the operation. The six women arrested for allegedly acting as egg donors or surrogate mothers were identified as Golconda Sai Leela from Bidar district, Karnataka; Malagalla Venkata Laxmi and Sadala Satyavathi from Rampachodavaram in Andhra Pradesh; P. Sunitha from Alluri Seetharamaraju district, Andhra Pradesh; and Pantada Aparna and J. Ramanamma from Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh. Laxmi was an egg donor and surrogate mother earlier Investigations revealed that Laxmi, who had previously worked as an egg donor and surrogate mother, exploited her contacts with fertility clinics and other agents to recruit financially vulnerable women. These women were persuaded to donate eggs or become surrogates and were referred to clinics in Hyderabad for large sums of money. The role of fertility centres and hospitals involved in the racket are being verified. Madchal deputy commissioner of police (DCP) N. Koti Ready said that she housed them at her residence and collected additional maintenance charges from the hospitals involved. Intending parents were charged between ₹10 lakh-₹20 lakh According to official, intending parents were charged anywhere between ₹10 lakh and ₹20 lakh, while surrogate mothers received ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh for the procedure. Items seized from the accused include ₹6.47 lakh in cash, a laptop, promissory notes and non judicial bond papers, medical supplies such as hormone injections and syringes, hospital case sheets, and multiple mobile phones. Laxmi, who has a prior criminal case in Mumbai for similar offences, and the others have been booked under the Surrogacy Regulation Act, the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Juvenile Justice Act. The raid was conducted by the Petbasheerabad police, Medchal Special Operation Team (SOT), the district medical and health officer. The accused were produced in court while efforts continue to trace others connected to the racket.
The Hindu
31-07-2025
- The Hindu
Five-day custody granted for fertility centre owner, son in baby-selling racket case
The Nampally criminal court has granted five days' custody of Athaluri Namratha, owner of Universal Srushti Fertility Centre, and her son Pachipala Jayanth Krishna - to the Gopalapuram police, in connection with the ongoing investigation into a baby-selling racket. Police said the two will be questioned on the nature of the racket, the scale of the operation, and the number of couples allegedly duped under the pretext of surrogacy. Namratha and her son are key accused in a wider probe into illegal assisted reproductive services that came to light after a raid on an unauthorised facility named 'Indian Sperm Tech' near Secunderabad East Metro Station on July 25. During the operation, officials found 17 sperm donors and 11 egg donors on site, along with donor records, surrogacy applications and payment logs. The facility had no licenced medical staff and was run by unqualified personnel. It was sealed, and a case was registered under Sections 21, 26 and 27 of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act. Police are now examining the possible link between Universal Srushti Fertility Centre and the operations of Indian Sperm Tech.
