Feature- Baby dreams, dark deals: The illegal IVF network spreading across India

A story that began with hopes of becoming parents is now revealing a disturbing undercurrent — an illicit fertility trade involving exploited women, unlicensed clinics, and alleged medical malpractice. The developments are emerging across India, from Badlapur to Gurgaon, with allegations of unlawful egg donation, surrogate exploitation, and possible links to human trafficking.A widening investigation into illegal IVF practices and human egg extraction in Maharashtra has uncovered what police describe as a deeply organised network spanning multiple cities, including Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Baramati, with links now extending to Nashik and inter-state trafficking circuits.The probe, which began in Badlapur, has expanded to over 30 medical practitioners and multiple fertility centres. It has revealed alleged exploitation of economically vulnerable women, repeated egg extraction beyond permissible medical limits, and financial transactions worth lakhs routed through clinics and agents.In the latest developments, police have issued notices to four doctors running IVF centres in connection with the illegal extraction and sale of human eggs. Of these, two doctors are from Mumbai, one from Thane, and one from Baramati. Officials said the probe has uncovered repeated use of the same donors across different clinics and cities, suggesting coordinated movement of women through agents and medical intermediaries.“So far, we have issued notices to four doctors. Based on their statements and findings of the inquiry, notices will be sent to other doctors involved,” a senior police officer said.Investigators believe several doctors, including those from south Mumbai, may have been part of a larger chain involving extraction and supply of eggs for commercial purposes.Repeated use of donors and illegal medical practicesAccording to police, several women were repeatedly used as egg donors across IVF centres in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Baramati, in violation of rules that permit donation only once in a lifetime.Financial transactions between donors and at least 30 doctors have also come under scrutiny.Police said:“Police said they have identified 30-35 donors linked to each agent, indicating a wide network operating across regions.”Investigators also found that hormonal injections meant to stimulate egg production were often administered without proper medical supervision or prescriptions, frequently at agents’ residences before women were taken to clinics for extraction procedures.Gurgaon IVF centre busted in major raidAuthorities busted an illegal IVF and surrogacy centre operating without registration in Sushant Lok 1.Officials said the clinic ran a “full-scale IVF and surrogacy setup without following the rules” and charged up to Rs 3 lakh for procedures.During the raid, investigators seized registers containing details of frozen embryos, egg donations, and semen storage. The records indicated that many donors and surrogates came from economically weaker backgrounds.An FIR has been lodged, marking the first such case in Haryana against an IVF centre. Chief medical officer Alka Singh said, “This is the first FIR in Haryana against an IVF centre. We have formed a six-member team of doctors. The team is investigating all such centres in Gurgaon. In this particular case, we received mail from an anonymous source about illegal activities being conducted at the centre. We informed DG (health) and district authorities and carried out a raid. We found several violations. First, the centre was not registered. Second, there was evidence of ongoing IVF, IUI and egg donation procedures being carried out without requisite approvals. We also found 84 embryos.” The FIR also noted that at least 68 semen samples were frozen between April and June 2025, including entries linked to foreign nationals.Inter-state trafficking angle emergesIn a parallel case highlighting wider exploitation, a nurse linked to IVF centres in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad has been under investigation for allegedly facilitating an inter-state child trafficking racket.Investigators said she worked at multiple IVF centres for nearly a decade before building a network linking doctors, clinics, and agents across Hyderabad, Pune, and Ahmedabad.Officials alleged she later began directly approaching childless couples and identifying vulnerable women in tribal regions of north Gujarat, including Poshina, Kheroj, Idar, Danta and Deesa.Police said at least 20 tribal infants were trafficked to Hyderabad over two years. Babies were reportedly priced based on skin colour and gender, with fair-skinned infants sold for up to Rs 7 lakh and others for Rs 2–3 lakh. Clinical trials, surrogacy and baby-selling A separate Enforcement Directorate investigation has revealed a structured exploitation chain in which women who initially joined clinical trials or egg donation programmes were gradually absorbed into criminal networks.The ED said several women began as trial participants or donors and later became agents themselves.One accused, identified in the order as a clinical trial participant, was paid Rs 15,000–20,000 per trial before later acting as a surrogate mother twice and donating eggs on two occasions.The ED found that women in debt or distress were recruited into a layered system involving commissions ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000.Surrogates and even relatives were allegedly used to route payments and facilitate illegal transactions.What is egg donation and legal frameworkEgg donation is an assisted reproductive technology process in which a fertile woman donates eggs to help individuals or couples who cannot conceive.Donor eggs are often used in cases of low-quality eggs, premature menopause, age-related infertility, or genetic conditions. Donors are typically young and healthy, which increases pregnancy success rates.In India, egg donation is strictly regulated under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021. Key provisions include:Rising concerns over regulation and exploitationAcross multiple states, investigations are revealing a pattern of illegal IVF practices, surrogacy violations, and egg donation rackets targeting economically vulnerable women. Authorities say the cases expose gaps in enforcement of existing laws and highlight the need for stricter monitoring of fertility clinics nationwide.