Eight More Arrested in Surrogacy Racket; Probe Reveals Possibility of Baby Trafficking
Hyderabad: Following the conclusion of the custodial interrogation of Dr A Namratha, the main accused in the Universal Srushti Fertility Centre scam case, the Gopalpuram police arrested eight more individuals on Wednesday. Additionally, two new cases related to the surrogacy and baby trafficking racket were registered.
The total number of arrested individuals has now reached 25, with eight FIRs filed. Investigations have uncovered evidence suggesting that Dr Namratha and her network may have trafficked more babies than previously known. Victims were deceived into believing they would receive their biological child through surrogacy.
"At this point, we are unable to confirm the exact number of victims who are not biologically related to the children they have. Until formal complaints are lodged, we cannot ascertain the full extent. However, our findings indicate the possibility of more victims," a senior investigator informed TOI.
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The new arrests include agents, key staff members of the fertility centre, and the biological parents of an infant. Some agents are from states outside Telangana, such as Maharashtra.
"During the investigation, it was discovered that the prime agent Santoshi operated through various sub-agents. Their role was to target vulnerable pregnant women and provide services like arranging egg donors, surrogate mothers, or even parents willing to sell their unborn babies," sources revealed.
Out of the eight cases filed, three involve allegations of fraud, where patients were assured their biological child through surrogacy. "In a particularly distressing incident, a baby passed away shortly after birth, and the intended parents were never given the child promised to them," officials disclosed.
Authorities are contemplating seeking further custodial interrogation of Dr Namratha and other key suspects by petitioning the court. Dr Namratha's initial five-day custody ended on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, five of the accused, including Dr Namratha, have applied for bail before the court.
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A huge poster of actor Vijay stares down from the wall. A digital signboard flashes: 285 days, 3 hours, 43 minutes and 46 seconds, a countdown to the 2026 assembly election in Tamil Nadu. Scores of people sit glued to screens, fingers flying over keyboards, some others are on mobile phones trying to reach voters in remote hamlets. The Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) war room in Chennai is fully activated.
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Allegations of Fraudulent Surrogacy Practices Surface at Hyderabad Fertility Clinic
HYDERABAD: Gopalapuram police have registered five new cases against the head of Srushti Fertility Clinic Dr Athaluri Namratha alias Pachipala Namratha, and others based on complaints lodged by five sets of victims. While in one case a couple alleged that the doctor handed them a baby whose DNA did not match theirs, three other couples accused the clinic of adopting dubious methods. They claimed that they had already paid the money â anywhere from Rs 12.5 lakh to Rs 19 lakh â and even deposited their biological samples when they grew suspicious about the operations of Dr Namratha and her clinic. The frauds occurred between 2019 and 2025. Cops are yet to ascertain details of the fifth case.
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