Commercial surrogacy & illegal human egg trading racket busted in Hyderabad

Mangalore Today News Network

Hyderabad, Aug 16, 2025: Close on the heels of Srushti IVF clinic case in which, a baby selling trade in the guise of IVF treatment was exposed, Cyberabad police on Friday busted a major racket involving commercial surrogacy and illegal human egg trading in Hyderabad.

The racket was being operated by a network of seven women and a man in collusion with several fertility centres.

The accused were exploiting the desperation of infertile couples for illegal monetary gain. The ongoing investigation revealed that the prime accused Narreddula Laxmi Reddy, had earlier worked as an egg donor and surrogate mother. Using her experience and network of contacts with other agents, fertility clinics, and centres, she began recruiting women to act as egg donors or surrogate mothers and referred them to fertility centres. For each successful procedure, she collected substantial amounts of money.

She targeted financially vulnerable women, persuading them to donate eggs or become surrogates, and kept them at her residence, collecting additional maintenance charges from the hospitals.

Cyberabad DCP, N Koti Reddy said that Laxmi Reddy’s son, Narender Reddy, a Chemical Engineering graduate from JNTU, assisted her in running this illegal business, which served as their sole source of income. The donors and surrogate mothers involved were aware that commercial surrogacy is prohibited by law but participated for financial gain. Police seized Rs. 6,47,000/- cash, a laptop, promissory notes, and non-judicial bond papers from Narreddula Narender Reddy and Laxmi.

Upon receiving credible information, a special police team conducted a raid on Laxmi’s premises in the presence of the District Medical & Health Officer (DM&HO). During the operation, the accused persons involved in the commercial surrogacy and illegal human egg trade were apprehended. The operation was duly conducted in accordance with legal norms, and a case was registered against the accused U/S 38,39,40,41 Surrogacy Regulation Act, 33,34 Of Asst Reproductive technology Act & 318(4), 61(2) BNS Act.

A detailed investigation has been initiated. The arrested individuals are being produced before the Court for judicial proceedings. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other persons connected to this illegal racket, said the senior police official.