A large illegal surrogacy and sperm smuggling racket associated with the Universal Srishti Fertility Center and the Indian Sperm Tech Clinic have been revealed in the Secunderabad area of Hyderabad. The police arrested 10 people in the case, including the owner of the clinic, Dr. Atwari Namrata and many others including his son.
The case came to light when a couple from Rajasthan lodged a complaint that despite the amount of Rs 35 lakh given by them for surrogacy, the DNA of the child born does not match with them.
Child and sold in the name of surrogacy
Police investigation revealed that the clinic bought a child from a poor couple from Assam for Rs 90,000 and handed it over to the couple in the name of surrogacy. Rashmi Perumal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of the northern region of Hyderabad, said, “This racket was involved in the smuggling of illegal surrogacy and reproductive materials by luring poor people.”
Investigation also revealed that Indian Sperm Tech, which was working unlicensed, smuggled sperm and eggs in states like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Police said that the clinic made fake birth certificates and collected reproductive materials illegally.
What did Telangana Health Minister say?
Police said that more than 10 cases have been registered against Dr. Namrata earlier and the license of clinics was canceled in 2021, yet it was running illegal activities. Telangana Health Minister Damodar Rajnarsimha said, “We have ordered a strict inquiry into all the fertility centers so that such fraud can be stopped.”
A local resident Ramesh Sharma said, “Such clinics play with the sentiments of the people. The government should take strict action.” The police has sent the child to Shishu Vihar and a thorough investigation into the case is going on.
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