Badlapur Women Egg Trafficking Racket: IVF Scandal Exposes Illegal Fertility Network in Maharashtra
The Badlapur Women Egg Trafficking Racket has led to arrests after Maharashtra Police uncovered alleged illegal IVF related activities from residential premises. Fertility injections worth nearly Rs 8 lakh were seized during raids in Badlapur and nearby areas. Investigators suspect a wider interstate network involving egg retrieval and supply to IVF centres. Authorities are examining compliance with the Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Act, 2021. The case raises serious concerns about medical ethics, consent safeguards, and regulatory monitoring in private fertility services across Maharashtra.
Badlapur Women Egg Trafficking Racket has triggered a major criminal investigation in Maharashtra after police uncovered illegal IVF related activities operating from residential premises in Badlapur, Ambernath and Vitthalwadi.
Police teams seized fertility injections and hormone medicines worth nearly Rs 8 lakh during coordinated raids. Officials suspect the racket functioned beyond Thane district and may have links to multiple assisted reproduction centres.
Investigators believe the case extends beyond the three arrested women. Sources indicate possible involvement of certain sonography centres and IVF clinics, raising concerns about regulatory oversight in private fertility services.
Authorities are examining whether the seized medicines were stored and administered without mandatory approvals under India’s Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Act, 2021 and clinical establishment norms.
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Illegal IVF Injections, Hormone Stimulation and Cross State Egg Supply Network
According to the initial complaint, the illegal activity was allegedly operated from a house in Badlapur. The accused, identified as Sulakshana Gadekar, allegedly stored ovarian stimulation injections unlawfully at her residence.
Women from financially vulnerable backgrounds were reportedly lured with monetary offers. After hormone injections stimulated egg production, they were referred to IVF centres for egg retrieval procedures.
Investigators allege that eggs were extracted in operation theatres and subsequently sold without proper compliance safeguards. The case raises serious questions about consent, medical ethics and patient protection protocols.
Medical experts confirm that ovarian stimulation requires strict supervision by qualified fertility specialists. Any deviation from approved medical guidelines can pose serious health risks, including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and long term complications.
The complaint suggests that donor women were paid between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 for undergoing the procedure. Intermediaries allegedly received around Rs 3,000 per referral.
Police sources claim that eggs may have been transported to states including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Kerala. If confirmed, this would indicate an organised interstate reproductive trafficking chain.
The husband of the prime accused, Sanjay Verma, has stated that his wife acted only as a mediator. He claimed documentation such as Aadhaar and PAN cards, along with spousal consent forms, were collected before referrals.
However, investigators are verifying whether these documents were genuine or fabricated. Preliminary forensic review of mobile data reportedly revealed photographs of injections, sonography images and financial transaction records.
Health Department Action, Digital Evidence and Expanding Criminal Probe
The alleged fertility racket was exposed by a team led by Dr Jyotsna Sawant, Chief Medical Officer of Badlapur Sub District Hospital. Her inspection team conducted the raid that uncovered the illegal stockpile.
Following the health department complaint, a case was registered at Badlapur East Police Station. Three women, including Sulakshana Gadekar, Ashwini Chabukswar and Manjusha Wankhede, have been arrested.
Police officials confirmed that digital evidence recovered from mobile phones may establish the scale of operations. Investigators are analysing transaction trails to determine whether larger IVF centres were involved.
Experts say this case highlights enforcement gaps despite the Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Act, 2021, which mandates registration and monitoring of IVF clinics and gamete banks across India.
If established as an organised egg trafficking network, charges could extend to cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and violations of biomedical and drug control regulations.
The broader concern is exploitation. Fertility demand is rising in India due to delayed parenthood and lifestyle changes, increasing pressure on both regulated and unregulated IVF markets.
Policy analysts warn that illegal egg procurement undermines ethical reproductive medicine. It also endangers women who may not fully understand the medical consequences of repeated hormone based stimulation cycles.
Market observers note that fertility services operate within a high value ecosystem. Without transparent auditing and coordinated interstate enforcement, underground medical networks can expand rapidly.
The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team continues to monitor official filings, health department actions and possible interstate or international links emerging from the probe.
Readers possessing verified documents or information related to this case may contact 9322755098. Investigative journalist Unmesh Gujarathi welcomes credible leads in the larger public interest.
