An investigation initiated in Thane, Maharashtra, has uncovered a shocking IVF racket preying on impoverished women, offering between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000 for their eggs. With fake Aadhaar cards and counterfeit documents, the same woman appeared as a donor multiple times under different names. This sinister operation brought forth names like Sonal, Manjusha, and Sulakshana. To date, six individuals have been apprehended in connection with this illicit trade involving millions.
Authorities in Ulhasnagar and Badlapur received reports of individuals luring vulnerable women with financial incentives, urging them to become 'egg donors.' Initial assumptions considered this a standard medical practice, but as the probe deepened, layers of deception in the form of a major racket unfolded.
Officials revealed that women were promised Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000. Many women, grappling with financial difficulties, succumbed to this temptation. Believing the assurance that it was a standard medical procedure offering quick money, they were unaware of the exploitative reality behind the façade.
Source: aajtak
Multiple Identities, Forged Documents...
The investigation unveiled that fake documents were the racket's prime tool. The gang presented one woman as a donor many times, each under different aliases, using fabricated Aadhaar cards and false affidavits to support the scam.
The racket bypassed legal norms, relying heavily on counterfeit identities of women. Using a woman's photograph, several identification documents were falsified, presenting her as a donor under various names at different IVF centers.
A Dentist's Involvement Reveals More
Among those arrested is Dr. Amol Patil, a dentist from Nashik. Investigations uncovered that the 'Malti IVF Center' in Mumbai's Naka area is registered in his wife's name.
Police allege the center facilitated illegal surrogacy contracts and egg trafficking. Dr. Patil is accused of medically supporting the network, conducting the egg extraction procedures. He was remanded in police custody until March 9 after a court appearance.
Over 500 Women Possibly Victimized
Investigators found shocking evidence, with hundreds of female photos, fake affidavits, and sonography reports retrieved from suspect phones. Authorities suspect over 500 women might have been exploited through this racket.
The women received only Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000, while their eggs were sold for lakhs, translating to enormous profits for the culprits.
The Roles of Sonal, Manjusha, and Sulakshana
Among the arrested are Sonal Garewal, Manjusha Wankhede, and Sulakshana Gadekar. The police assert these individuals were instrumental in recruiting and convincing women to partake in this scheme. They reassured the women of quick financial benefits with no risks involved. Medical tests were conducted, followed by the egg extraction procedures.
Incriminating Evidence Seized
During raids, the police confiscated medicines and injections worth over Rs 1.5 million. These items were crucial to the egg extraction process, revealing it was no minor affair but part of a large, organized operation.
According to authorities, the racket extended beyond a single city, with activities in Badlapur, Ulhasnagar, Thane, and Nashik. They recruited women from various areas, transporting them to IVF facilities, illustrating a vast network spanning multiple districts.
While six arrests have been made, law enforcement believes a higher mastermind might be orchestrating the operation. Ulhasnagar's DCP, Sachin Gore, notes three police teams are conducting raids, searching for the network's principal figure. Concurrently, numerous IVF and sonography centers in Thane and surrounding districts are under investigation.
Systemic Lapses in the Medical Field?
This case raises significant questions about how such a vast racket functioned unabated. The repeated use of forged documents to present one woman as multiple donors challenges the oversight capabilities of the medical monitoring system. Police are delving deeper into the issue, speculating that as the probe advances, more names linked to the racket will emerge. Speculations suggest additional medical centers or intermediaries might be involved.
