11 Arrested in Human Trafficking Racket in Hyderabad, 2 Newborns Rescued

Hyderabad: Eleven persons were arrested and two newborns were rescued after police busted an interstate human trafficking racket operating out of the city. The arrests were made by the Miyapur police with the assistance of the Special Operations Team (SOT), Shamshabad.

Two of the accused have previous cases associated with the illegal trade in babies.

Madhapur deputy commissioner of police Ritiraj said the accused were apprehended while allegedly attempting to illegally sell the infants to childless couples. The rescued babies were later shifted to Sishu Vihar in Ameerpet, for custody, Ritiraj told the media.

The arrested persons were identified as Vemula Babu Reddy, 49, of Medchal, Venkipally Gangadhar Reddy, 39, of Secunderabad, Daram Laxmi, 28, of Bhadradri Kothagudem, Ram Hari Roy, 37, of Jeedimetla, Kummari Harsha Roy, 31, of Moosapet, Sangeeta Debi, 33, of Jagadgirigutta, Gudepu Sujatha, 40, of Narapally, Suraboina Anuradha, 55, of Secunderabad, Esarapu Jyothi, 35, of Begumpet, V Madhavi, 28, of Chintal and Pothula Sobha, 44, of Musheerabad.

According to the police, the gang was involved in procuring newborn infants from economically-vulnerable families across different states by offering money through middlemen and selling the babies to childless couples for large sums. DCP Ritiraj said the operation was organised, with clearly defined roles among the accused.

Several members of the gang have a criminal history. Gangadhar Reddy alone has been booked in 18 cases across Cyberabad, Rachakonda and Hyderabad, including offences under the Juvenile Justice Act, the BNS and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021. Previous cases against the accused date back to 2014, with some registered in Mumbai as well.

The accused, V. Babu Reddy, worked as an IVF agent. He was previously arrested by the Alwal police and Devarakonda police in Suryapet district.

In the present case, police said, Gangadhar Reddy allegedly reached out to his associates – Laxmi, Sangeeta and Harsha Roy – who procured one infant from Ahmedabad through intermediaries.

Similarly, Babu Reddy reached out to Gangadhar Reddy for an infant who in turn contacted his associates – Gunde Sujatha, Amnuradha, Jyothi, Madhavi and Shoba and procured an infant from Ramanpet, Siddipet district by paying middlemen. Both were allegedly brought to Hyderabad for illegal sale when the police stepped in.

Further investigation is on to identify additional links, buyers and beneficiaries connected to the racket.

Mind-numbing

At least seven major cases of illegal trade in babies were found in the state this year.

Nov. 22: Karimnagar police bust baby-selling racket, five held

Sept. 2: Five held, six kids rescued in a kidnapping racket busted by Chandanagar police.

Aug. 15: Petbasheerabad police arrested a mother and a son for allegedly running a surrogacy racket.

July 27: Ten persons arrested for running an illegal surrogacy and baby-selling racket through Universal Srushti Fertility Centres, in Secunderabad.

May 29: Suryapet police arrested 13 people for running an illegal baby-selling racket and rescued 10 infants.

March 20: Rachakonda police busted an inter-state child trafficking racket. Then infants were rescued and 18 adoptive parents arrested.

Feb. 27: Rachakonda police arrests 11 persons for illegally purchasing infants from Gujarat.