HYDERABAD: Gopalapuram police have registered five new cases against the head of Srushti Fertility Clinic Dr Athaluri Namratha alias Pachipala Namratha, and others based on complaints lodged by five sets of victims. While in one case a couple alleged that the doctor handed them a baby whose DNA did not match theirs, three other couples accused the clinic of adopting dubious methods. They claimed that they had already paid the money — anywhere from Rs 12.5 lakh to Rs 19 lakh — and even deposited their biological samples when they grew suspicious about the operations of Dr Namratha and her clinic. The frauds occurred between 2019 and 2025. Cops are yet to ascertain details of the fifth case.

Case 1: DNA mismatch causes trauma

A woman from Hyderabad, requesting anonymity, alleged that she and her husband had approached Universal Srushti Fertility & Research Centre in July 2024 for infertility treatment. Dr Namratha advised gestational surrogacy using the couple's own genetic material and assured them that all legal formalities would be handled by them. The couple paid Rs 16.5 lakh for hormone therapy, laboratory work, and surrogate expenses. Their egg and sperm samples were collected at the clinic's Visakhapatnam branch on September 18, 2024. A baby girl was delivered via caesarean section on June 16, 2025, at a Visakhapatnam-based hospital. "Initially, we were told by the doctors that the baby was healthy, but they later shifted her to the NICU, terming her as late pre-term," the woman said. The couple's suspicions arose after Srushti staff refused to divulge the surrogate mother's details. Their fears deepened after they were unable to observe any facial resemblance with the baby, which prompted them to go for an independent DNA test. "The results, which came out on July 12, confirmed that neither of us was biologically related to the child," the complainant alleged. When confronted on July 22, Dr Namratha allegedly admitted that donor gametes were mistakenly used, and asked the couple to return the infant so the clinic could seek govt adoption clearance and repeat the procedure with their samples. The parents refused and approached the police, citing immense emotional trauma and legal uncertainty over the child's status. It is learnt that the child is still in the custody of the couple. The police have registered a case against Dr Namratha, Dr Vidyulatha, Kalyani, Sheshagiri, and Srinivasa Reddy under sections 61 (2), 316 (2), 318(4), 111, 335, 336, 340 BNS & Sections 38, 39, and 40 of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.

Case 2: Rs 12.5 lakh lost in fraudulent surrogacy deal

Another couple from the city approached police alleging they were duped of Rs 12.5 lakh by Dr Namratha and others through a fraudulent surrogacy deal. The husband, a 34-year-old private employee from the city, alleged that he and his wife approached Dr Namratha in Nov 2024 for a surrogate baby. Between April and May 2025, the couple paid Rs 10 lakh for tests and collection of ‘biological samples' at the Secunderabad branch. On June 26, Dr Namratha allegedly informed them that the "baby is ready," indicating successful initiation of surrogacy, and collected Rs 2.5 lakh more. Though Dr Namratha assured that the baby would be delivered on February 3, 2026, the couple became suspicious when the hospital repeatedly refused to reveal the surrogate's identity, produce consent forms, or show proof of court permission, and decided to approach the police. A case was registered against Dr Namratha, her associates, Chenna Rao, and Sureka under relevant sections of BNS & the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.

Case 3: NRI couple loses Rs 19 lakh

A US-based NRI couple who approached Universal Srushti Fertility and Research Centre in December 2019 for infertility treatment allegedly lost Rs 19 lakh to the accused. The husband, a 49-year-old software professional, and his wife approached Dr Namratha who, quoting a high success rate, charged Rs 7 lakh in cash and collected the couple's biological samples. After an unsuccessful embryo transfer, the couple returned to the USA. In January 2020, Dr Namratha advised the couple to opt for a surrogacy procedure costing Rs 25 lakh. The complainant's brother paid Rs 12 lakh in cash as an initial instalment. "The clinic provided no documents about medical procedures or statutory clearances. Due to Covid-19, I could not personally meet the doctor, and when I reached the fertility centre on Sunday, I came to know about the recent case against Dr Namratha," the complainant alleged. A case was registered against Dr Namratha under relevant sections of the BNS.

Case 4: Nalgonda couple alleges Rs 11 lakh fraud

A couple from Nalgonda alleged that Dr Namratha and her associates duped them of Rs 11 lakh with a false assurance of providing them with a child through a surrogacy procedure. The 49-year-old man and his wife first approached Universal Srushti Fertility Centre in June 2024 after unsuccessful IVF treatment attempts. Dr Namratha suggested surrogacy, and the couple paid Rs 9 lakh through UPI and Rs 2 lakh in cash between May 20 and July 2, 2025, and their samples were collected at the Secunderabad facility. "Despite the payments, the hospital neither produced proof of necessary legal permissions. They collected samples from us but did not start the surrogacy procedure," the complaint alleged. On learning about the other complaints against the facility, the victim approached the police on Sunday, and a case was registered against Dr Namratha, her associates, Archana, Dr Sadanandam, Chenna Rao, and Sureka under relevant Sections of the BNS.