The Telangana Women’s Commission on Monday questioned the authorities of five fertility centres in Hyderabad over the allegations pertaining to the collection of oocytes (eggs) from poor women in exchange of money and using them in illegal IVF procedures, days after nine people were arrested in connection with the alleged racket in the state, an official said.
“Acting on a tip-off, the Saroornagar police arrested Prasad and his eight associates. The police also raided an apartment in Begumpet Prakash Nagar and rescued eight women from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, who were paid money for donating eggs. As many as 15 women from the hostel were taken to Osmania Hospital for medical check-up from where they were sent to shelter homes,” Sumathi said.
Nine persons were arrested in connection with the racket, which was being operated from Venkateswara Colony under Saroornagar police station, according to Malkajgiri police commissioner B Sumathi. “The racket was being run under the name of a working women’s hostel,” the commissioner said.
