How a Hyderabad Clinic Ran a Baby Racket Behind Fertility Promises
Photo : Times Now
Hyderabad: In a case that has shocked the city and exposed the dark underbelly of unregulated fertility services, a Hyderabad-based fertility clinic allegedly duped a couple out of Rs 35 lakh by handing over a child that was not biologically theirs, all under the guise of a legal surrogacy arrangement.
The scam came to light after the couple, who had been desperately trying to start a family, turned to Universal Srushti Fertility Centre in August 2024 for fertility treatment. What they didn’t know was that this decision would pull them into a web of deceit, fraud and threats, one that police now say is part of a larger illegal surrogacy and baby-selling racket.
How the Scam Worked
According to police, the clinic’s founder, Dr A. Namratha, 64, first advised the couple to opt for surrogacy after conducting initial fertility tests. They were directed to the clinic’s Visakhapatnam branch for specimen collection and told that a surrogate mother would be arranged by the clinic.
Over the next few months, the couple paid over Rs 35 lakh in instalments, receiving regular updates about the surrogate’s “pregnancy”. In June 2025, they were informed that a baby boy had been delivered via C-section and were asked to collect him from Visakhapatnam after paying additional delivery charges.
The baby was handed over to the couple with documentation showing he was their biological child — including what police now say was a forged birth certificate. But something didn’t feel right. The couple commissioned a DNA test, which revealed that the child was not genetically related to either of them.
When they confronted the clinic for answers and documentation, they were met with silence and threats. Fearing for their safety, they reported the matter to police.
What the Investigation Found
The case triggered a deeper investigation by the North Zone police. What they uncovered was a larger illegal network spanning multiple cities — including fertility clinics run by Dr Namratha in Secunderabad, Kondapur, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.
The accused, along with her staff and agents, allegedly targeted vulnerable women, especially those seeking abortions. These women were convinced to carry their pregnancies to term in exchange for money. The newborns were then sold to unsuspecting couples under the guise of being surrogate babies.
In this case, police traced the baby’s biological parents, a couple from Assam living in Hyderabad, who had handed over the child to the clinic in exchange for a small sum. They too have been arrested on charges of baby-selling. The baby has since been handed over to Shishu Vihar, a government childcare institution, in accordance with legal procedure.
Clinic Already Under Scrutiny
Authorities say this isn’t the first time the clinic has come under fire. Though previously de-registered, the clinic allegedly continued to operate illegally using the name of another certified doctor on official paperwork.
Dr Namratha’s son, a practising advocate, is also under investigation for allegedly handling financial transactions and intimidating clients who questioned the clinic’s procedures.
Police also refuted media claims that the child had cancer or that donor sperm was used for IVF. “It is a case wherein the victim couple was told they were opting for surrogacy, but the baby was actually sold by the original parents and presented to them as theirs,” clarified DCP S. Rashmi Perumal (North Zone).
So far, eight people have been arrested, and multiple raids have been conducted at the Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam branches of the clinic. Authorities have also seized medical equipment, forged documents, and digital evidence, further cementing the scale of the operation.
Police have urged the public to be extremely cautious of fertility clinics offering commercial surrogacy — which is illegal in India. Those who suspect fraud or exploitation are encouraged to report it immediately.
The investigation continues. More arrests are likely.
