Four doctors have been arrested along with 21 others in connection with the fraud investigation that began with an initial FIR filed on 27 July 2025.
Published Aug 12, 2025 | 6:01 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 12, 2025 | 6:01 PM
4 doctors arrested in Srushti fertility fraud. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Investigators found that agents were paid ₹3.5 lakh for a girl child and ₹4.5 lakh for a boy child, while clients were charged up to ₹30-40 lakh in each case. The network systematically targeted emotionally distressed couples and monetized their desperation with complete disregard for human rights, medical ethics, and the law.
Hyderabad police on Tuesday, 12 August, said that agents paid ₹3.5 lakh for girls, ₹4.5 lakh for boys in Universal Srushti Fertility Clinic multi-state trafficking network case.
“It was revealed that agents were paid ₹3.5 lakh for a girl and ₹4.5 lakh for a boy, while clients were charged up to ₹30–40 lakh in each case,” said DCP North Zone S. Rashmi Perumal on Tuesday in a statement detailing the modus operandi of the sprawling Universal Srushti Fertility Centre fraud that has exposed an extensive illegal surrogacy and child trafficking racket across multiple states.
Gopalapuram Police have registered eight new criminal cases against Dr Athaluri Namrata, owner of Universal Srushti Fertility centres, and several of her associates for their alleged involvement in what investigators describe as an organized criminal network that systematically exploited vulnerable couples both emotionally and financially under the guise of fertility services.
Four doctors have been arrested along with 21 others in connection with the fraud investigation that began with an initial FIR filed on 27 July 2025.
The four medical professionals arrested include:
Among those arrested are several agents and birth parents, including Mohammed Ali Adik and Nasreen Begum from Assam, who were identified as birth parents of a baby in one of the cases. The network also included supervisors like Maranganti Pavan Mohan Krishna, who served as the main accountant, and nurses such as Gollamandala Surekha, wife of accused lab technician Chenna Rao.
The arrests followed investigation into the initial complaint that revealed a wider network of deceit, with multiple victims coming forward with similar allegations of cheating, organized medical fraud and child trafficking.
The investigation has revealed that Dr Namratha established multiple fertility clinics in Secunderabad, Kondapur, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Nellore, Rajahmundry, Bhubaneswar, and Kolkata. Her modus operandi involved initially claiming to treat patients for infertility and later promoting surrogacy, assuring that all legal formalities would be handled by her clinic.
After collecting large sums from clients, she obtained biological samples and provided regular updates on the “progress” of the pregnancy via phone. At delivery time, babies were procured from vulnerable mothers through a network of agents and handed over to clients, falsely claiming they were from their own samples.
Fake medical and DNA reports were created to support the deception, with the sample of the original mother used instead of the victim to deceive them.
The financial exploitation was staggering. Investigators found that agents were paid ₹3.5 lakh for a girl and ₹4.5 lakh for a boy, while clients were charged up to ₹30-40 lakh in each case. The network systematically targeted emotionally distressed couples and monetized their desperation with complete disregard for human rights, medical ethics, and the law.
Investigation revealed that Dr. Namratha had been involved in approximately 15 previous criminal cases across Gopalapuram, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Guntur, with some cases compromised and others still under trial in courts.
Her criminal history dates back to 2010, with multiple cases of cheating in the guise of IVF procedures and collecting huge amounts from victims. In Vijayawada alone, four cases were registered between 2010 involving cheating under the guise of IVF procedures. At Gopalapuram, five cases were filed between 2020-2023 where Dr. Namratha collected amounts ranging from ₹4.5 lakh to ₹15 lakh for surrogacy procedures and cheated victims, with babies never handed over in several instances.
Several cases from 2020 at Maharanipeta, Visakhapatnam involved child trafficking, including instances where newborn babies were taken and sold without mothers’ knowledge. In one case, Dr. Namratha and her agent were accused of taking a complainant’s newborn son and selling it without her knowledge, though the child was later recovered with the help of Child Welfare Committees. Another case involved taking a newborn baby from a complainant after offering ₹2.5 lakh, with the child later recovered and returned to the mother.
The pattern shows Dr. Namratha consistently collected substantial amounts for surrogacy and IVF procedures that were either never performed or resulted in children never being handed over to the intended parents, while simultaneously engaging in child trafficking operations that exploited vulnerable mothers.
DCP S Rashmi Perumal emphasized the severity of the crimes and issued a strong public advisory. “The police urge the public to remain cautious and avoid falling victim to fraudulent fertility or surrogacy services. Commercial surrogacy is banned as per Indian laws and any clinic which promises such surrogacy treatments must be immediately reported,” she stated.
The DCP stressed the importance of seeking legitimate medical care, advising people to “always consult only licensed and legally compliant medical professionals.” She also encouraged more victims to come forward, stating, “Victims who have undergone similar experiences are encouraged to come forward and contact your nearest police unit. Your cooperation is vital in dismantling such unethical and criminal networks.”
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Sumit Jha)
