Varanasi: Police arrest 4 for selling ovum of minor girls to childless couples
The racket was busted after the mother of a girl, who was coaxed into selling her ovum for Rs 30,000 but was paid only Rs 11,500, filed a complaint.
Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday (November 17) said that they arrested four persons, including a married couple, allegedly being involved in the sale of minor girls' ovum to childless couples at an IVF centre in Varanasi.
The gang would lure the girls with money and prepare fake papers related to their age to prove they were eligible for egg donation, the police said. Their eggs were sold to a famous IVF centre of the city in exchange for huge sums, the police further said.
The matter came to light when the mother of a 17-year-old girl from the Jaitpura area lodged a complaint blowing a whistle on an illegal egg “donation” racket running at an IVF centre, Mahila Police Station in-charge Nikita Singh said.
On the basis of the complaint, police launched an investigation and arrested Seema Devi and her husband Ashish Kumar, both residents of Navapura, Anita Devi, a resident of Khonjwan of Bhelupur Police Station, and Anmol Jaiswal of Sonbhadra. According to the complaint, the girl was promised Rs 30,000 but was paid only Rs 11,500. Her mother also alleged that she was kept in dark about the entire process.
Kashi Zone DCP RS Gautam said the accused used to target girls from poor families. Involvement of some employees and doctors of the centre has also come to light.
According to the norms prescribed for egg donation, a donor should be above 23 years of age and married with at least one child above three years of age. A woman can donate eggs only once in a lifetime, said a senior officer.