Doctor arrested for running illegal surrogacy and child trafficking ring

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Dr Athuluri Namratha on Thursday for operating an illegal surrogacy racket. The case involves child trafficking, forged documents, and large sums of money exchanged under false promises. Namratha had previously been arrested but was out on bail since late 2025.

Namratha ran the racket from her hospital in Visakhapatnam, where she falsified birth records to list childless couples as parents instead of the biological ones. She targeted poor and vulnerable families, convincing them to give up their newborns for sums between ₹3.5 lakh for a girl and ₹4.5 lakh for a boy.

The ED's investigation began after multiple FIRs were filed by Gopalapuram Police Station in Hyderabad. These included charges of fraud, cheating, criminal conspiracy, and illegal surrogacy. Namratha continued the operation even after her medical licence was suspended and cases were registered against her.

She collected large payments from desperate couples, promising them a baby through surrogacy. Instead, she sourced infants from biological parents who had considered abortions. Part of the money went to agents, sub-agents, and the families involved.

On Thursday, Namratha was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. A court in Hyderabad's Nampally later sent her to judicial custody until February 26.

This case is part of a wider crackdown on illegal adoptions. Since late 2024, authorities have arrested or charged at least 12 others linked to a similar network at Universal Srusthi Fertility and Research Centre in Vijayawada.

Namratha now faces serious charges under anti-money laundering and child trafficking laws. The investigation continues, with authorities examining her financial transactions and connections to other suspects. The case highlights ongoing efforts to dismantle illegal adoption networks across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.