Hyderabad: Police have busted an alleged illegal human oocyte egg donation racket involving the recruitment, transportation and accommodation of women from different States for oocyte extraction procedures at IVF and fertility centres across Hyderabad and the Malkajgiri Commissionerate.
Three cases have been registered at Begumpet and Saroornagar police stations under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Sections 29 and 33 of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021.
Police conducted simultaneous raids at four locations across Hyderabad and Malkajgiri Commissionerates, rescuing 43 women from different States and apprehending nine persons.
The rescued women belong to West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and other States. They were found at premises in Prakash Nagar, Begumpet, Erragadda, Saroornagar and Gopalapuram.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the women were allegedly brought to Hyderabad after being offered Rs.20,000 to Rs.30,000 for each egg donation cycle. They were accommodated in rented premises and allegedly referred to fertility centres for ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval procedures. Some women reportedly told investigators that they had been administered hormonal injections and medicines.
Police seized five vials of Humog HP 150 IU injections, a syringe, two needles, Primolut and Meprate tablets, mobile phones, documents and other relevant material. The inspections also raised concerns over the absence of authorised medical supervision and proper biomedical waste disposal at the premises.
Amit Sharma, suspected to be the main organiser, and Nikkat Parveen, an alleged recruiter, were among the eight persons apprehended in connection with the Begumpet and Saroornagar cases. Another accused, Emirishetty Durga Prasad, was arrested in connection with the Saroornagar case.
Police said Sharma was allegedly operating from a rented premises in Prakash Nagar, Begumpet, for nearly two years and paying a monthly rent of Rs.50,000. Parveen allegedly assisted in recruiting women, particularly from West Bengal, through agents and coordinating their transportation to Hyderabad.
According to police, the network allegedly involved organisers, recruiters, agents and intermediaries who identified women in different States, arranged their transportation and accommodation in Hyderabad and coordinated referrals for fertility-related procedures.
Police are investigating suspected forged Aadhaar cards, affidavits and other documents, financial transactions, commissions and the possible involvement of fertility centres and ART banks. They are also verifying medical records, informed consent, donor frequency and whether any women were subjected to coercion, deception or exploitation.
Police said the allegations were still under investigation and that the medical procedures, if any, would have to be established through medical records and official reports.