Hyderabad: In a major crackdown, the Pet-Basheerabad Police busted a large-scale illegal commercial surrogacy and human egg trading racket operating in Hyderabad. The police arrested eight individuals, including seven women and one man, who allegedly lured financially vulnerable women into egg donation and surrogacy for hefty profits.

According to the police, the mastermind, Narreddula Laxmi Reddy (45), a former egg donor and surrogate mother, allegedly ran the racket with her son, Narender Reddy (27), a JNTU graduate. The other arrested accused are identified as Golconda Sai Leela, Malagalla Venkata Laxmi, P. Sunitha, Sadala Satyavathi, and Pantada Aparna J. Ramanamma. Laxmi Reddy was earlier booked under IPC Sections 370 (trafficking) and JJ Act provisions in a Mumbai case.

Modus Operandi

Investigation revealed that the prime accused Narreddula Laxmi Reddy alias Laxmi had earlier worked as an egg donor and surrogate mother. Using her experience and network of contacts with other agents, fertility clinics, and centres, she began recruiting women to act as egg donors or surrogate mothers and referred them to the aforementioned fertility centres. For each successful procedure, she collected substantial amounts of money. She targeted financially vulnerable women, persuading them to donate eggs or become surrogates, and kept them at her residence, collecting additional maintenance charges from the hospitals.

"They targeted poor women from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, promising them money in exchange for egg donations or surrogacy. The accused then supplied these women to reputed fertility clinics, including Hegde Fertility Hospital (Madhapur), Anu Test Tube Centre (Somajiguda), FertyCare (Banjara Hills), EVA IVF, Amulya IVF Centre, and Sree Fertility Centre (Kondapur)," said N Koti Reddy DCP, Cyberabad.

The police have seized Rs 6.47 lakh cash from Laxmi Reddy, hormone injections (progesterone), pregnancy medicines, and syringes, case sheets of donors from Hegde Hospital, promissory notes, laptops, and mobile phones.

Upon receiving credible information, a special police team conducted a raid on the said premises in the presence of the District Medical & Health Officer (DM&HO). During the operation, the accused persons involved in commercial surrogacy and illegal human egg trade were apprehended. The operation was duly conducted in accordance with legal norms, and a case was registered against the accused U/S 38, 39, 40, 41 of the Surrogacy Regulation Act, 33, 34 of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act and 318(4), 61(2) of the BNS Act. A detailed investigation has been initiated. The arrested individuals are being produced before the court for judicial proceedings. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other persons connected to this illegal racket.