Prayagraj Police Nab Two More in Minor's Illegal Ova Extraction Scandal
In a significant development in a disturbing case, Prayagraj police on Tuesday arrested two additional suspects for their alleged involvement in luring a 15-year-old girl and illegally extracting her ova using forged documents at a local IVF centre. The arrests bring the total number of accused in custody to seven, shedding light on a meticulously planned operation that exploited a minor for financial gain.
Details of the Latest Arrests
Those apprehended have been identified as Ravi Bhartiya (24) and Sangeeta Devi (45), both residents of Phaphamau. According to police officials, the duo allegedly played a crucial role in preparing counterfeit documents for the teenager, facilitating the illegal procedure. This follows the earlier arrest of five other individuals, including four women, in connection with the same case.
Legal Framework and Initial Complaint
The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), specifically 140(4), 137(2), 143(4), and 351(2), as well as 3/5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. The investigation was initiated after Anita Gautam, a Phaphamau resident, filed a First Information Report (FIR) with the Phaphamau police. In her complaint, she accused Palak Hela and her mother, Rinki Hela of Kareli, of kidnapping her teenage daughter, luring her under false pretenses, and orchestrating the illegal ova extraction at a city-based IVF centre.
Modus Operandi of the Accused
Police investigations reveal that Palak and her mother allegedly enticed the minor into becoming an egg donor by promising a substantial sum of money and a high-end cellphone. Once the girl consented, she was taken to an individual named Seema, who assisted in creating forged documents. These included a fake Aadhaar card that falsely portrayed the minor as an adult, married woman, thereby bypassing legal safeguards.
Seema then escorted the girl to a registered agent associated with the IVF centre, where a fraudulent consent affidavit was prepared to legitimize the procedure. The minor's statement, recorded before the Child Welfare Committee on February 3, detailed how Palak took her to the IVF centre, where the ova extraction was performed on January 20.
Psychological Manipulation Tactics
Authorities have noted that the perpetrators were adept at brainwashing their targets, employing sophisticated psychological tactics to gain their trust. In a particularly insidious move, they even took the victims to religious sites, exploiting spiritual sentiments to lower their guard and ensure compliance. This highlights the calculated and manipulative nature of the racket, which preyed on vulnerable individuals for illicit gains.
Ongoing Investigation and Implications
The arrests underscore the seriousness with which law enforcement is treating this case, which involves not only criminal forgery and exploitation but also potential violations of medical ethics and minor protection laws. As the investigation continues, police are likely to delve deeper into the network's operations, including any possible connections to other IVF centres or similar illicit activities. This incident raises critical questions about regulatory oversight in assisted reproductive technologies and the need for stricter verification processes to prevent such abuses in the future.
