According to NDTV, Hyderabad police North Zone DCP S Rashmi Perumal stated that all surrogate kids were purchased from a biological parent and had no genetic link to the couple who spent up to Rs 35 lakh to have a biological child.
Eight fresh criminal cases have been filed in the ongoing investigation into a huge fraudulent surrogacy and child trafficking ring involving Dr. Athaluri Namrata, the owner of Universal Srushti Fertility Centres, and her coworkers.
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The latest development takes the total number of arrests to 25, which includes four doctors, lab workers, managers, agents, and the biological parents of trafficked babies.
“They exploited the desperation of couples who want a baby and also the vulnerability of a biological parent who is unable to keep a baby,” DCP Rashmi explained.
The initial investigation began on July 27 with a complaint filed by a couple from Rajasthan who discovered through an independent DNA test that the kid born to them following a’surrogacy’ operation had no genetic relation to either parent.
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The investigation found a massive criminal network that reportedly targeted childless couples. According to the authorities, the defendants pretended to provide fertility treatments and surrogacy services while actually running an organised baby-selling network.
Key Points
1. The fertility clinic demanded massive fees ranging between Rs 30 to Rs 40 lakh from desperate couples for bogus surrogacy treatments. After collecting their genetic material, the clinic falsely informed them that embryos had been implanted. Nine months later, babies sourced through a network of agents and vulnerable women were handed over to the couples.
2. The victims were misled using forged DNA and medical documents to believe the children were biologically theirs. Agents were given a small cut, typically Rs 3.5 lakh for a girl and Rs 4.5 lakh for a boy, while biological parents received only around Rs 90,000.
3. DCP Rashmi stated that it’s still unknown what became of the sperm, eggs, or embryos that were collected during these fraudulent procedures.
4. Eight additional FIRs have been filed at Gopalapuram Police Station, unveiling a consistent and serious pattern of deceit and malpractice.
5. One couple paid Rs 22 lakh, only to be shown a deceased infant that was later found to have no biological connection with them and had died due to health complications.
6. Another couple spent Rs 19 lakh and was handed a premature baby girl. A DNA test later confirmed the baby wasn’t theirs, and they received threats from the culprits when they raised concerns.
7. Two children involved in the scam have now been placed in Shishu Vihar, a state-run child care facility, after their biological parents deserted them and the couples who paid for the surrogacy refused to take custody, citing lack of biological ties.
8. Dr. Suri Shrimathi, a 90-year-old gynecologist, was a victim of identity theft her name and medical license were fraudulently used on official documents by the clinic without her permission.
9. Twenty-five individuals have been arrested, including Dr. Namrata, her son, and lawyer Pachipala SS Jayanth Krishna. Others include doctors, lab staff, and agents from several cities, revealing the wide scale of the operation.
10. Police disclosed that Dr. Namrata has previously faced around 15 criminal cases across Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Guntur for offenses like fraud, medical malpractice, and child trafficking. Some of these cases were settled, while others remain ongoing.
11. Given the seriousness and complexity of the case, the Hyderabad Police Commissioner has transferred the investigation to the Central Crime Station’s Special Investigation Team.
12. DCP S Rashmi Perumal warned citizens to be wary of fraudulent fertility clinics, reminding them that commercial surrogacy is illegal in India and urging them to seek help only from certified and legal medical practitioners.
13. The Telangana government has mandated inspections of all fertility clinics throughout the state to identify and curb such malpractice.