Prayagraj Police Bust Illegal IVF Racket Involving Minor with Forged Documents
The Prayagraj Police have initiated a comprehensive investigation into a disturbing case of illegal IVF donation, where a 15-year-old girl was allegedly enticed with a payment of Rs 35,500 to become an egg donor. Authorities have arrested five individuals, including four women, following a complaint lodged by the victim's mother on February 6, 2026.
Arrests and Allegations in the Illegal IVF Scheme
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh, the accused fabricated an Aadhaar card to falsely represent the minor as a 25-year-old married woman, thereby making her appear eligible under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. This act stipulates that donors must be women aged between 23 and 35 years. The arrested individuals include Rinki Hela, her daughter Palak, Kalpana Bhartiya, Seema Bhartiya, and her son Himanshu, all residents of Prayagraj.
Police revealed that the victim, who worked as a waitress with Palak, was misled about the nature and legality of the IVF procedure. Himanshu allegedly created the forged Aadhaar card using a mobile application, while Kalpana, a registered agent at an IVF centre, facilitated the donation with fabricated consent affidavits. The illegal procedure was conducted on January 20 at the centre, which is now under scrutiny.
Legal Framework and Ongoing Probe into IVF Centre Compliance
The ART Act, 2021, enforces strict regulations: donors can donate only once in their lifetime, with a maximum of seven eggs retrieved, and gametes from a single donor cannot be supplied to more than one commissioning party. Police have questioned staff at the IVF centre and discovered that they relied on agents for donor verification without independent checks. In response, authorities have written to the health department to audit the centre's operations and ensure compliance across other IVF facilities in the district.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Arun Parasar noted that while the victim's mother alleged religious conversion, no evidence has been found to support this claim. The case has been registered under charges of kidnapping, human trafficking, and criminal intimidation. The victim is currently staying at a One Stop Centre due to family issues.
Expanding Investigation to Uncover More Potential Victims
Police are investigating whether more young girls and women were targeted by the accused, who allegedly used forged documents to place them in the legal age bracket. Photographs of women from various age groups found on the phones of one suspect have prompted this line of inquiry. Station Officer Ashwani Kumar confirmed that Rs 35,500 was paid to the donor, highlighting the financial exploitation involved.
The health department has been requested to provide technical expertise on proper IVF procedures and accountability. Based on their findings, police will determine the next steps, including potential legal actions against the IVF centre and further arrests. This case underscores critical vulnerabilities in the regulation of assisted reproductive technologies and the urgent need for stricter enforcement to prevent exploitation.
