ED intensifies probe into Universal Srushti Fertility Centre case

The Enforcement Directorate has taken Universal Srushti Fertility Centre owner Dr Namrata into custody in a money laundering case, probing alleged hawala transactions, illegal surrogacy practices and a possible child trafficking network operating across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stepped up its investigation into alleged irregularities linked to the Universal Srushti Fertility Centre and reportedly took into custody its owner, Dr Namrata, in connection with a money laundering case.

According to information available, Dr Namrata and her son Jayanth Krishna were taken into custody with police assistance after investigators found prima facie evidence of financial misconduct. The agency suspects that large sums of money were collected from childless couples through illegal channels, including ‘hawala’ transactions.

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The probe has also opened a new angle of inquiry that whether child trafficking was carried out under the guise of surrogacy. The police have alleged that infants were procured from tribal families and falsely presented as babies born through legitimate surrogacy procedures.

Police said the fertility centre had earlier faced multiple complaints. In previous cases, couples seeking IVF treatment were allegedly persuaded to opt for surrogacy instead and charged hefty amounts. During the investigation, it was also found that the suspect may have taken assistance from certain ANMs in Andhra Pradesh as part of the alleged network.

Dr Namrata was arrested in July 2025 following fresh findings in the ongoing investigation. Officials had stated that even in cases where no surrogacy procedure had actually taken place, couples were allegedly misled into believing otherwise and made to pay substantial fees.

Other doctors, who had studied with the main accused at Andhra Medical College in 1988, were also arrested earlier in connection with the case. The prime suspect had previously secured bail in earlier cases, but has now been taken back into custody as the financial investigation deepens.

Further investigation is underway to trace the money trail and identify other individuals involved in the alleged racket.

Considering the gravity of the surrogacy scam and human trafficking incidents cases related to Universal Srushti Fertility Centers which caused tremors across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the case was earlier transferred to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) at the Crime Branch for further investigation.

Namratha has been previously involved in 15 criminal cases across Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Guntur for cheating, surrogacy fraud, and child trafficking, some still under trial.