Over 30 Medical Practitioners Under Scanner in Illegal Egg Extraction Network
In a major crackdown on an alleged illegal human egg extraction and sale racket, Badlapur police have issued notices to four doctors running IVF centres while widening the investigation to over 30 medical practitioners across multiple cities in Maharashtra.
Officials confirmed that the doctors who have received notices are based in Mumbai, Thane, and Baramati. The probe gained momentum after shocking revelations that several women were repeatedly used as egg donors across IVF clinics in these regions, raising serious concerns about exploitation and violations of medical ethics.
Financial Links and Large-Scale Network Suspected
Preliminary findings indicate that financial transactions involving victims and at least 30 doctors are under scrutiny. Investigators have identified 30–35 donors connected to individual agents, pointing towards a highly organised network operating across cities like Pune and beyond.
Police suspect that some medical professionals, including those based in south Mumbai, may have been part of a supply chain where extracted eggs were commercially traded.
Racket Allegedly Run by Former Donors
Sources revealed that the illegal network was allegedly operated by three women who were themselves egg donors nearly a decade ago. They reportedly saw a financial opportunity and built a network with an initial investment of just ₹5,000–₹10,000.
The accused women allegedly:
- Recruited financially vulnerable donors
- Coordinated with IVF clinics
- Earned commissions per procedure
Victims were reportedly offered ₹25,000–₹30,000 per egg donation cycle.
Fake Documents and Repeated Donations Exposed
Investigators uncovered the use of forged Aadhaar cards and fake identities to bypass regulations under the ART Act. Phone records and seized documents suggest links with nearly 30 IVF centres, with more than 10 clinics in Pune currently under investigation.
Authorities also found that donors were subjected to repeated egg extraction cycles, violating medical norms that allow donation only once.
Unsafe Medical Practices Raise Alarm
Police allege that hormonal injections used to stimulate egg production were often administered at the homes of agents without proper medical supervision or prescriptions. Women were later taken to IVF centres where eggs were extracted and allegedly sold.
Some doctors under investigation claimed they were misled by agents posing as authorised donor coordinators with seemingly valid licences—documents now suspected to be forged.
Arrests Made, Clinics Raided
So far, seven individuals have been arrested, including:
- Director of a private IVF centre in Nashik
- Three women agents linked to the network
In a related development, authorities raided a hospital in Ulhasnagar, uncovering illegal sonography procedures and major irregularities. The facility has since been sealed.
Charge Sheet Expected Soon
Officials are now examining financial records, call data, and clinic documentation to determine the full extent of involvement. According to police officials, a charge sheet is likely to be filed within 10 days as the investigation continues to uncover the scale of the racket.The case has raised serious concerns about regulatory loopholes in assisted reproductive technologies and the exploitation of economically vulnerable women, prompting calls for stricter oversight of IVF practices in India.
