Telangana Police Busts Surrogacy Racket, 8 Held

Hyderabad: Eight persons were arrested for allegedly running a commercial surrogacy and illegal human egg trading racket, reportedly in collusion with several fertility centres in Hyderabad, Medchal DCP N. Koti Reddy said on Friday. The accused are alleged to have exploited the desperation of infertile couples for monetary gain.

Those arrested have been identified as agents Narreddula Laxmi Reddy alias Laxmi (the prime accused), a resident of Chintal, Quthbullapur, and native of Chilakaluripeta in Andhra Pradesh, and her son Narreddula Narender Reddy, also from Chintal and a chemical engineering graduate from JNTU.

The others, who acted as egg donors or surrogate mothers, are Golconda Sai Leela of Bidar, Karnataka; Malagalla Venkata Laxmi and Sadala Satyavathi of Rampachowdavaram, Andhra Pradesh; P. Sunitha of Alluri Seetharamaraju district, Andhra Pradesh; Pantada Aparna and J. Ramanamma of Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh. Police said the role of some hospitals and fertility clinics is under verification.

Each surrogate mother was offered `10-`20 lakh. Similarly, the accused are said to have collected at least `10-`20 lakh from gullible couples who approached them.

Laxmi, who had earlier worked as an egg donor and surrogate mother in Mumbai, reportedly used her experience and contacts with agents and fertility clinics to recruit women — particularly those who were financially vulnerable — persuading them to donate eggs or act as surrogates. She housed them at her residence and collected additional maintenance charges from hospitals. Her son, Narender, assisted her.

The duo are believed to have started the racket a few months ago in the city.

Based on a tip-off, a special team from the Petbasheerabad police, along with the District Medical & Health Officer (DMHO), raided the premises and seized Rs.6,47,000 in cash, a laptop, promissory notes, non-judicial bond papers, large quantities of disposable syringes, pregnancy medicines, hormone injections, case sheets of two women (Sai Leela and Neha) from Hegde Hospital, five smartphones, and a keypad mobile phone.

Another hospital in Madhapur is suspected to have carried out the surrogacy procedures, but its involvement is yet to be confirmed, officials said.

Laxmi had earlier been booked in FIR No. 41/2024 under IPC Sections 370 and 34, and relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice Act, by the DCB, CID Unit-2, Mumbai.

Police said the surrogate mothers would be sent to a rescue home in the city after the investigation.

Following this raid, a case was registered under Sections 38, 39, 40, and 41 of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, Sections 33 and 34 of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, and Sections 318(4) and 61(2) of the BNS. The accused were produced before the court, and efforts are on to arrest the remaining persons involved in the racket.

- Laxmi, a former egg donor herself, used her contacts in fertility clinics and also took the help of agents to recruit women.

- Target group: Mostly financially vulnerable women.

Modus Operandi:

- Brought women to the city.

- Arranged accommodation.

- Linked them to hospitals for surrogacy and egg donation procedures.