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Police have dismantled a chilling surrogacy and child-trafficking ring operating under the guise of a fertility clinic, arresting 25 individuals involved in an extensive fake procedure network that stretched across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The central figure in the racket is Dr. Athaluri Namratha, owner of the Universal Srushti Fertility Centre, alongside agents, lab personnel, doctors, and even biological parents of trafficked newborns. The clinic, located in Secunderabad, lured desperate couples with promises of IVF and legal surrogacy—but delivered heartbreak instead of babies through medical fraud and document forgery.
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Babies Bought, Sold, and Misrepresented
In one gruesome case, a newborn allegedly purchased for ₹90,000 from impoverished parents in Assam was sold to a couple for INR 35 lakh, presented as their biological child without proper DNA confirmation. Several victims only uncovered the deceit after undergoing independent DNA testing.
Investigations revealed the clinic exploited vulnerable individuals seeking parenthood. One couple, medically fit to conceive, was nonetheless steered toward surrogacy. They received a baby under false pretences, only to later learn the birth had no genetic ties to them.
SIT Takes Over as Arrest Tally Hits 25
The scope of the racket has expanded significantly. Police have registered eight FIRs and arrested agents, clinic staff, and even doctors from Visakhapatnam’s King George Hospital. The principal accused and others are now in judicial remand.
The investigation has been elevated to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) within the Central Crime Station. Officials expect the probe to reveal more victims and potentially involve money-laundering dimensions.
