Hyderabad, August 16, 2025:
Just weeks after the shocking revelations at Secunderabad’s Universal Srushti Fertility Center, another disturbing case has surfaced in *Medchal district, exposing a large-scale *illegal surrogacy and egg-trading racket.
Police arrested eight people on Friday (August 15), including seven women and one man, for running commercial surrogacy operations and illegal egg trading. Investigators say the accused targeted poor young women, luring them into becoming surrogate mothers or egg donors in exchange for small payments, while charging intended parents exorbitant amounts.
How the Racket Worked
The alleged mastermind, *Narreddula Lakshmireddy alias Lakshmi (45), was booked as the prime accused (A1), along with her son *Narender Reddy (23), named as A2. Police revealed that Lakshmi made six surrogate mothers sign promissory bonds, ensuring they delivered babies for far less than what she collected from clients.
According to police, Lakshmi paid surrogate mothers only *₹4–5 lakh, while charging parents between *₹20–25 lakh. This massive difference allowed her to make huge illegal profits.
Shockingly, Lakshmi is a repeat offender. She was previously arrested in Mumbai for baby-selling and illegal surrogacy, yet resumed the same criminal activities after her release. Along with her son and daughter, she restarted operations in Hyderabad.
Evidence Collected
During raids, police seized:
- Promissory notes and bond papers signed by surrogate mothers
- Large stocks of fertility drugs and hormone injections
- Records of couples visiting IVF centers through middlemen
Investigators found that Lakshmi maintained contacts with multiple fertility centers, including Hegde Hospital, Anu Test Tube Center, EVF IVF, Ferti Care, Sri Fertility, and Amulya Fertility Center. Police are now probing the extent of her links with these clinics.
Official Response
Authorities confirmed that all eight accused have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. Police stated that they are widening the investigation to determine whether IVF hospitals knowingly collaborated or if documents were misused by agents.
This case has reignited debate on the urgent need for stricter regulation of fertility clinics and surrogacy practices in Telangana and across India.
Key Highlights
- Medchal police busted a major surrogacy racket involving egg trading.
- Eight accused arrested, including mastermind Lakshmi and her son.
- Surrogate mothers were paid *₹4–5 lakh, while parents were charged *₹20–25 lakh.
- Evidence links the accused to six IVF centers in Hyderabad.
- Police seized contracts, fertility drugs, and client data during raids.
- Lakshmi is a repeat offender, earlier jailed in Mumbai for similar crimes.