ED Arrests Fertility Clinic Head in Hyderabad Over Illegal Surrogacy Money Laundering
The Enforcement Directorate's Hyderabad unit made a significant arrest on Thursday, taking into custody Dr. Namratha, the head of Universal Srushti Fertility Centre. This action is part of an ongoing money laundering investigation connected to an alleged illegal surrogacy and child trafficking racket that has shocked the region.
Court Proceedings and Judicial Custody
Dr. Namratha was produced before the metropolitan sessions judge court at Nampally, where she was remanded in judicial custody until February 26. During the court hearing, ED officials presented evidence indicating that Dr. Namratha was not cooperating with investigators who are probing the alleged proceeds of crime generated through fraudulent activities.
The accused had been questioned for two consecutive days at the ED office in Basheerbagh, where she consistently denied all allegations leveled against her and her clinic.
Allegations of Fraud Against Childless Couples
Investigators have accused Dr. Namratha and her clinic of systematically cheating childless couples by promising legitimate IVF and surrogacy services that were never genuinely performed. According to the probe, the clinic collected substantial sums of money from desperate couples seeking fertility treatments, with some cases involving payments ranging from ₹30 lakh to ₹40 lakh.
Instead of conducting proper medical procedures, the clinic allegedly engaged in a disturbing practice of procuring infants from vulnerable women and presenting them as surrogate babies to unsuspecting couples. This deception was reportedly supported by forged medical records and fabricated DNA reports designed to legitimize the fraudulent transactions.
How the Racket Was Uncovered
The illegal operation came to light after a couple from Rajasthan grew suspicious and conducted an independent DNA test. To their horror, they discovered that the child handed over to them after what they believed was a legitimate surrogacy process had no biological link to them whatsoever.
This revelation triggered multiple complaints from other families who had similar experiences, leading to the registration of several FIRs and expanding the investigation across Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Previous Arrests and PMLA Case Registration
Dr. Namratha was initially arrested by Gopalapuram police in July of last year along with several others allegedly involved in the network. At that time, eight persons including agents and technicians were booked for fraudulent practices at the clinic.
Based on these initial FIRs, the Enforcement Directorate registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in October 2025. Since then, the agency has been meticulously tracing the alleged flow of funds, properties, and assets acquired through suspected illegal proceeds from the racket.
Expanding Arrests and Asset Identification
So far, 24 persons have been arrested in connection with this case, including Dr. Namratha's son P Jayanth Krishna and others linked to the extensive racket. ED officials have confirmed that several properties allegedly purchased using crime proceeds have been identified, and attachment proceedings under the PMLA are expected to commence soon.
Detailed Modus Operandi of the Fraud
According to investigators, the clinic employed a sophisticated deception strategy:
- Couples were initially lured with assurances of scientifically-supervised IVF and surrogacy treatments after repeated consultations designed to build trust.
- They were charged exorbitant fees with promises that embryos had been created and successfully implanted in surrogate mothers.
- Instead of legitimate procedures, the clinic allegedly purchased babies from poor or vulnerable women, sometimes for as little as ₹90,000.
- These infants were then falsely documented as children of the commissioning parents through forged certificates and manipulated DNA reports.
The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover the full extent of this disturbing network that exploited vulnerable women and desperate couples seeking to build families through legitimate medical means.
