3 More Held in Srushti Fertility Centre Scam
Namratha was sent to Chanchalguda jail on Tuesday after a medical examination at Gandhi Hospital.
Hyderabad: Three more persons were apprehended by Gopalapuram police on Tuesday in connection with the cheating and Surrogacy Act violations involving Universal Srushti Fertility Center. Police said a fresh case will also be registered for impersonation after the accused allegedly used the certificates of other eligible doctors for illegal activities.
On Monday, three people were arrested at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) based on an Intelligence wing tip-off. The arrests continued on Tuesday, targeting agents and medical staffers, including some from Visakhapatnam Government Hospital. With the latest arrests, the total number of accused taken into custody has risen to 17 across six registered cases.
One of the latest accused, Vidyulatha from Visakhapatnam, is a close associate of Kalyani, a key accused in the case. Kalyani is alleged to have manipulated patients and couples into opting for surrogacy even when they were medically fit for natural conception. She was also accused of preparing false doctor’s notes to facilitate these procedures. Sources said Vidyulatha assisted Kalyani in drafting these notes and was actively involved in the schemes. While running her own clinic in Visakhapatnam, Vidyulatha allegedly collaborated with both Kalyani and another accused, Namratha, in illegal activities.
Namratha, who was taken into five-day custody, has been “a tough nut to crack,” according to investigators. However, interrogation revealed details of a scam in which the doctor allegedly cheated around 80 couples in the name of providing surrogacy, claiming that the procedures failed to yield results. Police are continuing to gather evidence.
Officers also revealed that Namratha had allegedly misused the medical certificate of a 94-year-old doctor without his knowledge. A separate case of impersonation will be filed, and investigators suspect the use of other doctors’ certifications as well. Police said more charges could be added if additional victims come forward.
Meanwhile, the custody of Kalyani and another accused, Santoshi, is continuing. Namratha was sent to Chanchalguda jail on Tuesday after a medical examination at Gandhi Hospital. Police are likely to seek an extension of her custody to probe deeper into the network.