Police said Laxmi recruited women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, persuading them to donate eggs or serve as surrogates in exchange for payment.
Published Aug 15, 2025 | 8:03 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 15, 2025 | 8:03 PM
Illegal surrogacy and egg-trading racket busted in Hyderabad
Synopsis: The Pet-Basheerabad Police uncovered an organised network engaged in commercial surrogacy and human egg trading, operating in violation of Indian laws governing assisted reproduction. Investigations revealed that the prime accused, Narreddula Laxmi Reddy, had prior experience as an egg donor and surrogate mother. Leveraging her contacts within the fertility industry, she built a recruitment and referral system.
Hyderabad’s fertility industry is once again under the scanner, with police uncovering yet another illegal surrogacy racket barely weeks after a major baby-selling case had rattled the city.
Earlier this month, 10 people were arrested for allegedly running an illicit network that arranged surrogacy services and sold newborns.
That case had already sparked widespread concern over the lack of oversight in fertility clinics, highlighting how vulnerable women and desperate couples are exploited for profit.
Now, in a fresh case, the Pet-Basheerabad Police have dismantled an organised network accused of commercial surrogacy and illegal human egg trading. The alleged racket, involving eight people and suspected links to multiple fertility centres, is believed to have systematically targeted women from financially distressed backgrounds.
The Pet-Basheerabad Police uncovered an organised network engaged in commercial surrogacy and human egg trading, operating in violation of Indian laws governing assisted reproduction. Investigations revealed that the prime accused, Narreddula Laxmi Reddy, had prior experience as an egg donor and surrogate mother. Leveraging her contacts within the fertility industry, she built a recruitment and referral system.
A total of eight individuals were arrested. Laxmi Reddy, 45, is identified as the key organiser, assisted by her 27-year-old son, Narreddula Narender Reddy, a Chemical Engineering graduate from JNTU. All were reportedly aware of the illegality of commercial surrogacy but participated for financial gain. The list of accused includes two agents and seven egg donors/surrogate mothers. These are:
Police said Laxmi recruited women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, persuading them to donate eggs or serve as surrogates in exchange for payment. She housed them at her residence during the process, charging maintenance costs to the involved fertility centres.
For every successful procedure, Laxmi collected substantial commissions. Her son is alleged to have helped manage logistics, paperwork, and communications with the clinics. The investigation is examining potential links to several fertility facilities in Hyderabad, including:
Police said that the role of these centres is yet to be confirmed, and verification of their involvement is a priority in the ongoing probe.
Based on intelligence inputs, the Pet-Basheerabad Police, working with the Special Operations Team (SOT) of the Medchal Zone, launched a coordinated operation to target the suspected commercial surrogacy and illegal human egg trading network.
The effort was spearheaded by P. Shobhan Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (SOT, Cyberabad), and A Vishwa Prasad, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (SOT, Medchal Zone), under the operational supervision of AC Bala Gangi Reddy, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Pet-Basheerabad. To ensure adherence to medical protocols and verification of health-related evidence, Dr C Uma Gouri, District Medical & Health Officer (DM&HO) of Medchal-Malkajgiri District, joined the team at the scene.
Officers conducted surveillance and gathered case-specific intelligence before moving in to raid the identified premises. The accused were apprehended on-site, and the operation led to the recovery of significant material evidence, including:
Following the arrests, a case was formally registered under the relevant provisions. The police filed the case under the following sections:
Post-raid, the investigative focus has shifted to verifying the alleged links with several Hyderabad-based fertility clinics, analysing seized documents and digital data, and identifying additional individuals connected to the racket. Police have stated that further arrests are likely as they work to dismantle the entire network and establish a clear chain of operations.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
