Hyderabad: Dr. Namrata, Universal Srushti Fertility Centre and several others arrested in connection with illegal surrogacy and sperm trafficking. This Universal Srushti Fertility Centre is located in Regimental Bazaar. The police also raided Universal Srushti Fertility Centre’s at Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam also relating to this case.

The police raided Universal Srushti Fertility Centre on the complaint of Rajasthani couple who discovered, through independent DNA testing, that the child born to a surrogate arranged by the clinic was not genetically related to them.

Acting swiftly, the police conducted late-night raids at the Universal Srushti Fertility Centre, interrogating staff until the early hours of the morning. During the operation, crucial documents were seized, and sperm samples were preserved for forensic examination.

According to the Hyderabad North Zone DCP Rashmi Perumal the operation allegedly involved luring poor people into surrogacy and the illicit inter-state transfer of reproductive materials.

The elaborate cheating racket came to light when a couple from Rajasthan, now residing in Secunderabad, lodged a formal complaint with the police. They had paid Rs 35 lakh to the clinic last year for a surrogacy procedure. However, upon the birth of the baby this year, their request for DNA verification of the surrogate mother was repeatedly delayed by Dr Namrata.

The couple then arranged for independent DNA tests in Delhi. The results confirmed their worst fears: the child shared no genetic link with them.

In June, when confronted with the DNA evidence, Dr Namrata reportedly admitted to a mix-up and requested time to resolve the issue. However, she then went missing, prompting the couple to approach the Gopalapuram police.

The police in its investigation found that a deeply entrenched interstate network. It was discovered that the clinic was allegedly involved in the illegal collection and transportation of sperm and eggs to other states, including Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The fertility centre was found to be collaborating with an unlicensed firm named Indian Sperm Tech.

Police arrested Pankaj Soni, the regional manager of Indian Sperm Tech, along with six other individuals identified as Sampath, Srinu, Jitender, Shiva, Manikantha, and Boro. These individuals are believed to have been actively involved in sourcing and shipping reproductive material across states.

DCP Rashmi Perumal said Dr Namrata had collected over Rs 35 lakh from the aggrieved couple for surrogacy services. It was also revealed that a woman was brought from Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam by flight for the delivery, with Dr Namrata allegedly convincing the couple that the baby born to this woman was theirs through surrogacy. Investigations indicate that Dr Namrata lured poor people to act as surrogates.