HYDERABAD: Women recruited from seven states for alleged commercial egg donation were being matched with prospective recipients based on specific requirements such as caste, religion, complexion, height, education and geographical background, said Malkajgiri police officials who busted a fertility racket in the city on Saturday.The accused allegedly operated a network of agents across the country who exchanged information about prospective donors through WhatsApp groups and other communication channels. Whenever couples seeking egg donors approached them with specific requirements, the agents circulated the details within their network to identify suitable women.“The accused exploit women who are in need of money. They have WhatsApp groups and other means for exchanging information with a network of people across India. Whenever they receive enquiries from people looking for egg donors, the requirements are shared with illegal agents in the network,” Begumpet inspector P Saidulu told TOI.
Investigators said the prime accused, Amit Sharma, and his associates recruited women from seven different states: West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha. The accused allegedly operated under the cover of running women’s hostels. Police suspect that the accommodation facilities were, in reality, being used to house prospective egg donors before they were taken to IVF centres for procedures..Investigators said the demands of prospective recipients determined the compensation offered to donors. While some women were allegedly promised Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000, certain donors were offered as much as ₹50,000, depending on the requirements of the couples seeking eggs.“The couples seeking donors specify their preferences, including complexion, caste, height and other characteristics. Based on our interactions with the accused and rescued women, complexion and regional background appear to be among the more common requirements. The agents circulate these demands within their network to identify women who match the criteria. The more specific the requirements, the higher the amount charged,” an investigating officer said.Police said referrals from previous donors were a key source of recruitment. The investigation has also turned towards the role of IVF centres allegedly linked to the network. Malkajgiri DCP Ch Sridhar said police had sought clarification from health officials on the responsibility of IVF centres in verifying the identity and credentials of egg donors.