No records of the surrogate mothers were maintained by the fertility clinic in Hyderabad.(File)
The police rescued 47 surrogate mothers from a two-floor fertility clinic in Hyderabad on Saturday in posh Banjara Hills area of Hyderabad, after they suspected the clinic was being run illegally, an officer said today.
According to police, the owner of the centre was running the facility without any requisite permission.
"The women in various stages of pregnancy were not allowed to go outside till delivery. There were around 47 surrogate mothers and most of them belong to Delhi, Hyderabad and other parts of the country. We have informed the district health officials who visited the centre along with doctors and they seized the available records," Task Force (central zone) Inspector S Srinivas Rao said.
The owner of the facility told the police that he was collecting Rs 15-30 lakh from couples and paying Rs 2.5-3.5 lakh to the women who had rented out their wombs.
It was also found that no records regarding the surrogate mothers or the biological parents were maintained by the clinic, the inspector said, adding that the probe is on.
The officer refused to give the name of the owner, saying the investigation is underway.
Further action will be initiated based on the outcome of the investigation, he said, adding that efforts are underway to shift the rescued women to government hospitals.