In a significant breakthrough, the Cyberabad police in Hyderabad have dismantled a new infant trafficking network, arresting eleven individuals. The operation led to the rescue of two ten-day-old male babies who were allegedly brought to the city for illegal sale.
Key Accused from Previous Racket Re-arrested
Among those apprehended is Harsha Roy, a key accused in the massive baby-selling and surrogacy racket busted five months ago at the Srushti Fertility Centre in Secunderabad. Roy was out on bail following her arrest in August. Her involvement in the new case came to light based on the confession of V Gangadhar Reddy, a prime accused in the fresh trafficking operation. Police picked her up from her residence in Jeedimetla.
The new racket was exposed on Wednesday when the Special Operation Team (SOT) of Cyberabad, acting on a tip-off, arrested Gangadhar Reddy and another accused, V Babu Reddy, from Miyapur junction. Their interrogation revealed the broader network.
Modus Operandi and Rescue of Infants
According to investigators, Gangadhar and Babu spearheaded the operations. They allegedly lured two economically vulnerable women from Ahmedabad and Ramanyapet in Siddipet district, paying them Rs 3.5 lakh each in exchange for their newborn sons.
"We managed to rescue the babies before they could be put up for sale and have kept them at the government-run Sishu Vihar. We are yet to trace the biological parents," a police officer stated. The infants are now under state care.
Links to Larger Illegal Network
Riti Raj, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Madhapur zone), revealed that the interrogation uncovered a wider criminal enterprise. "Prima facie, we have come to know that the arrested accused are facilitating three services illegally – semen and organ donation, surrogacy, and selling of newborns. We are yet to probe the IVF angle," she said.
The DCP confirmed that four of the eleven arrested have a previous criminal history. Gangadhar has been involved in five earlier trafficking cases in Hyderabad, while Harsha Roy, Naga Laxmi, and Babu Reddy have been implicated in two cases each.
This new case is separate from the ongoing investigation into the Srushti Fertility Centre racket, which is being probed by the Central Crime Station (CCS). That inter-state racket, allegedly masterminded by Dr. Athaluri Namratha, has so far seen 24 arrests across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Police have registered cases under charges of conspiracy to operate an organised trafficking gang, trafficking children, and violations of the Juvenile Justice Act. Investigations are ongoing to determine the intended buyers for the rescued babies and to ascertain how Harsha Roy secured bail in the previous high-profile case.
