Fertility Centre Owner, Son Remanded for 5 Days in Baby-Selling Racket Case

Quick Summary

• Court Decision: Nampally criminal court has granted five days’ custody to gopalapuram police for Athaluri Namratha and her son Pachipala Jayanth Krishna, owners of Universal Srushti Fertility Center.
• Investigation Scope: They are accused in a baby-selling racket, and their questioning will revolve around the scale of operations and the number of couples deceived under surrogacy claims.
• Background: Their involvement came to light during a raid on July 25 at an unauthorised reproductive facility named ‘indian Sperm Tech’ near Secunderabad East Metro Station.
• Findings at Indian Sperm Tech: Authorities discovered 17 sperm donors, 11 egg donors, donor records, surrogacy applications, payment logs; facility lacked licensed medical staff or qualified personnel. The premises were sealed under various sections of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act (Sections 21, 26 & 27).
• Connection Under Scrutiny: Police are investigating links between Universal Srushti Fertility Centre and Indian Sperm Tech.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The case highlights grave legal and ethical concerns surrounding unregulated assisted reproductive services in India. The findings from the raid expose significant lapses in oversight for fertility clinics-a sector expected to adhere strictly to medical laws such as the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act. Beyond legal violations like employing unqualified personnel or operating without licensing, reports suggest exploitation of vulnerable individuals through deceptive practices.

For india’s healthcare landscape, addressing these issues is crucial not only for safeguarding patient rights but also for maintaining public trust in legitimate fertility services. As investigations proceed into both Universal Srushti Fertility Centre’s activities and its association with ‘Indian Sperm Tech,’ it may prompt stronger regulatory enforcement across similar enterprises nationwide. This could pave the way toward stricter accountability mechanisms within India’s growing assisted reproduction industry.Read more: link