Hyderabad: The Cyberabad police have uncovered a significant illegal operation involving commercial surrogacy and the unlawful trade of human eggs. A mother and her son, acting as agents, were arrested along with six women acting as surrogate mothers. They were found collaborating with several fertility clinics in Hyderabad, exploiting infertile couples for money.
The arrested individuals include Narreddula Laxmi Reddy, 45, and her son Narreddula Narender Reddy, 27. The surrogate mothers arrested are Golconda Sai Leela, 39, from Bidar District, Karnataka; Malagalla Venkata Laxmi, 30, and Sadala Satyavathi, 29, both from Rampachowdavaram, Andhra Pradesh; P. Sunitha, 23, from Alluri Seetharamaraju District, Andhra Pradesh; and Pantada Aparna, 30, and J Ramanamma, 39, both from Vijayanagaram District.
DCP N. Koti Reddy stated that six hospitals and fertility clinics are allegedly involved, but their involvement is still being verified. These include Hegde Fertility Hospital (Madhapur), Anu Test Tube Centre (Somajiguda), Ferti Care (Banjara Hills), EVA IVF, Amulya IVF Centre, and Sree Fertility Centre (Kondapur).
The investigation revealed that Laxmi previously worked as an egg donor and surrogate mother. Using her knowledge and connections with other agents and clinics, she recruited financially vulnerable women as egg donors and surrogate mothers, referring them to these clinics. She profited significantly from each successful procedure and housed the women, charging maintenance fees to the hospitals.
Her son, Narender, a chemical engineering graduate from JNTU, helped her manage this illegal business, which was their only income source. The women involved were aware that commercial surrogacy is illegal but chose to participate for financial reasons.
Police confiscated Rs 6,47,000 in cash from Laxmi, along with a laptop, promissory notes, and non-judicial bond papers. They also seized syringes, pregnancy medicines, hormone injections, five smartphones, and a keypad mobile phone. Laxmi had a previous case with CID Unit-2, Mumbai. The operation followed legal protocols and was conducted with the District Medical & Health Officer (DM&HO).
A case has been filed against those arrested, and efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest others involved in this illegal operation.
