Bengaluru, Feb 27 (NationPress) In light of the recent discovery of an illicit egg cell (ovum) donation scheme in Maharashtra, the Karnataka government has instructed officials to stay alert and oversee the operations of IVF centres in Bengaluru and throughout the state.

Authorities have been tasked with investigating potential connections between Karnataka and the scandal.

During a media briefing on Friday in Bengaluru, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stated, “Concerning reports suggesting a Bengaluru connection to the egg donation scandal, I have discussed this with my team. Currently, we lack information regarding which hospital or individuals might be involved. Comprehensive information is not available at this time. Our officers are working to gather more details from their counterparts in Maharashtra, as well as from our Home Department, to assess if any individuals or health institutions from Karnataka have been mentioned.”

“Should any information come to light, appropriate measures will be taken. Following the emergence of this news in Maharashtra, we will conduct thorough checks in Bengaluru and across the state. I have directed our officers to remain vigilant regarding activities within our state and instructed the Deputy Director to treat this matter with the seriousness it warrants,” the Minister emphasized.

It is important to note that recently, police in Thane and various districts of Maharashtra dismantled a significant illegal egg donation operation and apprehended three women accused of repeatedly exploiting economically disadvantaged women and profiting from their eggs via IVF channels.

Investigators revealed that the perpetrators enticed women with compensation ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per cycle, while the harvested eggs were allegedly sold for substantial amounts to clients seeking fertility assistance. So far, at least 20 women are believed to have been victimized, many of whom faced repeated hormonal treatments and surgical procedures that led to serious health complications.

The scheme was reportedly conducted from a residential flat and a sonography centre located in the Joveli area of Badlapur East in Thane. The operation was uncovered after one victim approached the Chief Medical Officer of a local hospital, which triggered a police raid.

During the raid, authorities recovered pictures of hormone injections, sonography reports, falsified documents, and digital records of financial transactions from the accused individuals’ mobile devices. Investigators suspect these documents were employed to mask the identities of donors and misrepresent illegal activities as legitimate medical procedures.

Sources indicate that initial investigations have uncovered a Bengaluru connection to the egg donation racket that was exposed in Maharashtra's Nasik, Nagpur, Pune, and Thane. Vulnerable women were reportedly targeted, with their egg cells (ovum) extracted and later utilized in IVF centres. According to regulations, a woman is permitted to donate her eggs only once in her lifetime due to significant health risks. However, the perpetrators allegedly coerced women into donating their eggs over 25 times.