A shocking case from Hyderabad has brought to light the role of DNA testing in uncovering fraudulent surrogacy practices in India. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently conducted raids across nine locations in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam, exposing an alleged illegal surrogacy and child trafficking network led by Dr. Pachipalli Namratha.
The investigation was triggered when a foreign couple discovered through a DNA test that the child they had received from Dr. Namratha’s clinic was not biologically theirs. This revelation raised immediate suspicions and even led to the denial of a passport for the child, prompting further scrutiny of the clinic’s operations.
Dr. Namratha’s Universal Srushti Fertility and Research Centre is accused of deceiving childless couples with false promises of surrogacy using their own genetic material. Each procedure reportedly cost around ₹30 lakh, attracting couples desperate for parenthood. However, investigations revealed that many women—often vulnerable or already pregnant—were recruited to give up their babies in exchange for money, with the children falsely presented as genetically related to the clients.
The ED’s raids uncovered extensive financial irregularities, including the seizure of properties and documents suggesting that illicit funds were used to acquire assets. The clinic, which has allegedly operated for over a decade and maintains branches in other cities including Nellore and Kolkata, now faces scrutiny under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Authorities have warned of further legal action, highlighting the serious ethical and legal violations involved.
This case underscores the growing importance of DNA testing in verifying parentage and exposing fraudulent surrogacy practices. DNA analysis not only provides accurate biological evidence but also acts as a safeguard against unethical medical practices, protecting both prospective parents and children.
As the investigation continues, this incident serves as a critical reminder of the need for strict regulation of surrogacy clinics in India, ethical compliance, and transparency in medical procedures. DNA testing, in this context, has proven to be an indispensable tool in upholding justice and ensuring accountability in reproductive healthcare.
Source: Times of India
Published: September 25, 2025
