ED raids 9 sites in Hyderabad, AP in surrogacy scam probe
HYDERABAD: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) Hyderabad zonal office conducted search operations on September 25, 2025, at nine locations in Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam in connection with an alleged illegal surrogacy racket linked to Dr Pachipalli Namratha alias Athluri Namratha. The action was carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Officials said incriminating documents, including details of couples who were allegedly defrauded and records of properties in Namratha’s possession, were seized during the searches.
FIRs formed basis of probe
The investigation was initiated on the basis of multiple FIRs registered at Gopalapuram police station, Hyderabad, on charges of fraud, cheating, criminal conspiracy, illegal surrogacy and child trafficking.
According to ED, Namratha, who operated Universal Srusthi Fertility & Research Centre, promised childless couples a child through surrogacy using their own eggs and sperm. She allegedly collected ₹30 lakh per case, of which ₹15 lakh was taken by cheque and ₹15 lakh in cash, claimed to be paid to surrogates.
In one complaint, a couple discovered after DNA testing that the child handed over to them was not biologically theirs.
Agents, vulnerable women involved
Investigators said agents helped Namratha by arranging poor and vulnerable pregnant women, lured with money to give up their children after delivery. Part of the collected amount was paid to these women and agents as commission, while Namratha allegedly retained most of the proceeds, using them for personal expenses and acquisition of properties.
Seized records indicated that she had been offering such services for over 10 years in centres located in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Nellore, Kolkata and other cities. Officials also found that she created legal-looking surrogacy agreements to project that couples and surrogates had independently approached her clinic.
In another instance, foreign passport-holding parents were denied travel documents for a child after a DNA test revealed the baby was not biologically related to them.
Properties under scanner
The ED said seized material included documents of properties allegedly purchased using proceeds of crime.
Further investigation is under way.
