Hyderabad IVF Probe: 8 Held in Human Egg Trafficking Case

In Hyderabad, a widening investigation into an alleged interstate illegal human egg donation racket has resulted in eight individuals being taken into police custody for five days. Investigators are focused on understanding the recruitment process for women across different states, their transport to Hyderabad, and subsequent referral for oocyte extraction procedures. The inquiry has uncovered the suspected use of forged identity documents, with one arrest made for allegedly preparing fraudulent Aadhaar cards. Authorities are examining allegations that these fake identities were employed to enable repeat donations and bypass legal restrictions.

Notices have been issued to 14 fertility hospitals, IVF centers, and ART banks demanding donor registration, KYC, consent, medical, and financial records. Simultaneously, the health department inspected 27 registered ART facilities in Telangana, identifying 13 types of regulatory violations and issuing show-cause notices to seven. This investigation is particularly significant given the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021, which sets age limits for donors, restricts donations to once in a lifetime, and caps oocyte retrieval. Police are also tracing the financial transactions to identify beneficiaries and ascertain if women were subjected to coercion or exploitation.