Surrogacy racket spanned Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam; nationwide probe launched

Dr Namratha, the main accused in a surrogacy scam, allegedly resumed illegal fertility operations despite pending cases. Clinics in three cities lured couples with false promises. Police believe a deeper investigation may uncover a larger child trafficking network

Hyderabad: Investigations into the surrogacy scam have revealed that despite multiple cases pending against her in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the accused, Dr Namratha, allegedly resumed her illegal activities by luring medical professionals with lucrative salaries and commissions, establishing clinics under their names to avoid scrutiny.

According to investigation officials, the network reportedly ran fertility centres in Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, with Secunderabad serving as the initial counselling centre.

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After the mandatory counselling sessions, the clients were flown to Visakhapatnam for so-called surrogacy procedures, including egg and sperm samples collection.

Within a month, the childless couple were informed of a “successful procedure”, and promised a child in nine months, all while paying lakhs of rupees in advance.

Nationwide crackdown initiated

The North Zone police, in coordination with Child Welfare and Health departments, have already begun a nationwide crackdown on the network of doctors, private hospitals, and traffickers linked to the scam.

Investigators believe deeper investigation in the case may expose a broader child trafficking syndicate that has been operating under the guise of legitimate fertility treatments for several years.