Did Hyderabad Police Crack an Illegal Surrogacy Racket?
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Synopsis
In a significant operation, Hyderabad Police have dismantled an illegal surrogacy racket, arresting a doctor and nine accomplices. This shocking case reveals the dark side of fertility practices, where unsuspecting couples were misled into believing they were parents of a child that was not biologically theirs. The investigation continues, highlighting the urgent need for regulatory oversight in fertility clinics.
Key Takeaways
- The Hyderabad Police have arrested a doctor and nine others in an illegal surrogacy case.
- Victims were misled into believing they were biological parents.
- Police conducted simultaneous raids on multiple clinics.
- Significant financial exploitation of vulnerable couples was uncovered.
- Calls for stricter regulations in fertility services have intensified.
Hyderabad, July 27 (NationPress) - The Hyderabad Police have successfully dismantled an illegal surrogacy and baby trafficking operation, leading to the arrest of a doctor, who is also the proprietor of a fertility clinic, along with nine accomplices.
Dr. Athaluri Namratha, also known as Pachipala Namratha, runs the Universal Shristhi Fertility Centre in Secunderabad and faces serious charges for orchestrating a major illegal surrogacy and fertility fraud.
On Sunday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Zone) S. Rashmi Perumal informed the press that the racket was unveiled after a couple filed a complaint. DNA testing indicated that the child born through a surrogate provided by the clinic was not genetically theirs.
The Gopalapuram Police, collaborating with the Medical and Health Department, executed the operation, apprehending the main suspect along with numerous associates.
Dr. Namratha, aged 64, oversees fertility clinics branded as Universal Srushti Fertility Centres located in Vijayawada, Secunderabad, Visakhapatnam, and Kondapur.
Other individuals arrested include Pachipala Jayanth Krishna, C. Kalyani Atchayyamma (manager at the clinic), Gollamandala Chenna Rao (lab technician and embryologist), Nargula Sadanandam (anaesthesia specialist at Gandhi Hospital), and Dhanasri Santoshi, Mohammed Ali Adik, and Nasreen Begum.
The couple, originally from Rajasthan, sought help from the Universal Srushti Fertility Centre in Secunderabad in August 2024 for fertility and IVF advice.
They were later directed to a different branch in Visakhapatnam for specimen collection and assured that the clinic would arrange for a surrogate and the embryo transfer.
Throughout the nine-month period, the couple made multiple payments to the clinic, receiving updates about their baby's health.
In June 2025, they were informed that the surrogate had successfully delivered a baby boy via C-section in Visakhapatnam. They were asked for additional payment to cover delivery costs and were instructed to pick up the baby.
Once in Visakhapatnam, the couple received the baby along with documentation falsely registering the child as their own, including a forged birth certificate. The clinic had collected over ₹35 lakh from them for consultations and procedures.
Subsequently, a DNA test revealed that the child's DNA did not match theirs. Attempts to contact the clinic for clarification were met with intimidation, leading them to seek police assistance.
DCP Perumal stated that Dr. Namratha, who began her medical career in 1995, transitioned to fertility and IVF services in 1998. Over time, she engaged in unethical and illegal practices, charging clients between ₹20 lakh to ₹30 lakh under false pretenses.
She, along with her associates, targeted vulnerable women, particularly those seeking abortions, enticing them to carry pregnancies for financial compensation.
These infants were then misrepresented as children conceived through surrogacy, deceiving clients into believing the babies were biologically theirs.
The arrested individuals included the biological parents of the baby, who were residents of Assam living in Hyderabad. The delivery was planned in Visakhapatnam, where they received only a meager amount before being sent back.
Police conducted simultaneous raids at clinics in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
The Gopalapuram clinic was seized, and substantial medical equipment was discovered, confirming that the accused were performing IVF treatments, creating live embryos, and conducting medical procedures without the necessary licenses.
Clients who protested were threatened by Dr. Namratha's son, an attorney who managed financial dealings for her operations from the same location.
Investigations indicated that more than ten complaints had been filed against them in the past across Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Guntur.
The Medical and Health Department had previously revoked the registration of the implicated fertility clinic, yet the accused continued to operate under the name of another certified doctor, Suri Shrimati, on official documents.
Police have confiscated medical equipment, medicines utilized at the clinic, mobile devices, case records, and surrogacy documents related to the crimes.
The investigation is ongoing, and further legal measures are being taken, as confirmed by the DCP.
Point of View
Emphasizing the responsibility of authorities to protect families and ensure ethical practices in a sector that deeply impacts lives. As a nation, we must advocate for transparency and accountability in healthcare.
NationPress
22/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the illegal activity uncovered by Hyderabad Police?
Hyderabad Police uncovered an illegal surrogacy and baby selling racket, leading to the arrest of a doctor and nine others.
How did the authorities discover the racket?
The racket was exposed after a couple reported that the child born through a surrogate from the fertility centre was not biologically theirs, following a DNA test.
What actions have been taken by law enforcement?
Police conducted raids on the fertility clinics and arrested the main suspects along with several associates involved in the illegal practices.
What are the implications of this case for fertility clinics?
This case highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations and oversight in the fertility industry to prevent unethical practices and protect vulnerable families.
What were the financial implications for the couple involved?
The couple reportedly paid over ₹35 lakh in consultation fees and were misled throughout the surrogacy process, ultimately receiving a child that was not biologically theirs.
