Thane Police Makes Seventh Arrest in Human Egg Trafficking Case
In a significant development, Thane police on Thursday arrested another accused in connection with the illegal extraction and sale of human eggs from economically vulnerable women in Badlapur. This arrest brings the total number of individuals apprehended in this disturbing case to seven, highlighting the scale and severity of the operation.
Accused Identified as Document Forger
The arrested individual has been identified as Satish Chaudhary, an electrician hailing from Jalgaon. According to investigators, Chaudhary allegedly played a crucial role in the racket by preparing fake Aadhaar cards and other forged documents for the victim women. These fabricated documents were used to conceal the real identities of the victims, thereby facilitating the smooth functioning of the illegal operation without raising any suspicion from authorities.
Health Department Raids Hospital
Simultaneously, the health department of the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation conducted a raid at Bhagwan Hospital in Ulhasnagar on Thursday. The raid revealed that illegal sonography procedures were allegedly being carried out at the hospital for the gang, in clear violation of established medical norms and protocols. Following the inspection, the health department sealed the centre at the hospital after the team discovered that the facility had failed to maintain proper patient records and that unqualified persons were performing sonography procedures.
Previous Arrests and Key Players
Police had earlier arrested a nurse working at the same hospital. She was accused of conducting illegal sonography procedures on the women without any doctor's prescription and sharing details about the status of their eggs with doctors and agents involved in the racket. On Wednesday, police arrested Dr. Amol Patil, the director of the Malti IVF Centre, in connection with the case. Authorities alleged that Dr. Patil played a key and central role in the illegal extraction and sale of human eggs, underscoring the medical complicity in this criminal enterprise.
Modus Operandi of the Racket
So far, seven people have been arrested, including three women who allegedly lured poor and financially distressed women by offering them money. Police detailed that these women administered ovulation-stimulating injections to the victims at their homes without any medical supervision or prescription. The victims were later taken to the IVF centre, where the eggs were extracted and allegedly sold to 'clients', exploiting the women's economic vulnerability for profit.
Investigation Ongoing
Police stated that the racket appears to be large and well-organised, indicating a sophisticated network of individuals involved in this illicit trade. Further arrests are likely in the coming days as the investigation progresses, with authorities committed to uncovering the full extent of this operation and bringing all perpetrators to justice.
