August 2, 2025

In Secunderabad, Telangana, the bustling railway station serves as a gateway for thousands daily, with advertisements promoting medical tourism playing loudly in various languages. Among the many who pass through, Sonam Singh and her husband Akshay traveled from Rajasthan seeking help for their fertility issues. They opted for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and were drawn to the Universal Srushti Fertility Centre, which boasted an impressive success rate. As their hopes rose, they were shocked when urged to consider surrogacy instead. Namratha, the clinic's owner, convinced them surrogacy was the safer option, despite the significant financial burden it placed on them, costing ₹30 lakh compared to the standard IVF cycle priced between ₹2 to ₹6 lakh. They transferred half the amount as instructed and were promised a healthy child, but nearly a year later, suspicions arose when their baby was handed to them without a DNA test. Confident of their biological connection, they discovered instead that the infant was not genetically theirs, leading them back to confront Namratha, who had vanished. In their search for answers, the distressed couple reported the incident to the Gopalpuram police, who uncovered a large and sinister baby-selling operation masked as a surrogacy clinic. The investigation revealed that at least 15 couples had been duped, having been sold babies not biologically related to them, with falsified documents to support the scam. As more details emerged, it was discovered that agents recruited vulnerable women seeking financial help, and in some cases, the women giving birth were abandoned without compensation. The harrowing tale took a tragic turn with reports of a surrogate's death during an escape attempt from an alleged assailant. Law enforcement has now focused on the broader implications of this scandal, raiding a facility linked to sperm and egg donation and revealing an illicit operation of unregistered clinics across the region. A police officer noted how desperate women and men succumbed to financial incentives to become donors, often under inadequate safeguards. With greater scrutiny, the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, and the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, 2021, have set the stage for more ethical and transparent practices in fertility treatments, attempting to eliminate the shady operations that once thrived in a regulatory gray area. All surrogacy procedures are now mandated to take place at registered clinics adhering to strict medical standards, with any breaches punishable by hefty fines and imprisonment. Experts in reproductive medicine emphasize the significant transformation the laws have brought about, enhancing accountability and safeguarding donor anonymity. Implementing innovations such as the RI Witness system is crucial for maintaining accuracy and trust within fertility clinics, yet some smaller centers still operate without sufficient regulation. Ultimately, this scandal exposes the risks faced by couples seeking help through surrogacy in India, illustrating the need for reinforced legal frameworks to protect both parents and surrogates alike from exploitation. As the aftermath of this shocking revelation unfolds, the focus now shifts to holding accountable all individuals involved in the racket while working towards better practices in the ever-growing field of assisted reproduction.

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Tags: Surrogacy, Fertility, Healthcare, Scandal, Telangana,