Thane: In a major crackdown, police have unearthed an alleged racket involving illegal stimulation, extraction and sale of human eggs and arrested 3 women in Badlapur East, exposing what officials described as exploitation of economically vulnerable women.Initial investigations have found agents identified women willing to “sell” eggs for Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000.At least 40 women may have been exploited, said a senior police officer. In one case, a donor underwent egg extraction 33 times—even though the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, allows women to donate eggs only once in their lifetime, that too not for financial gains.The case surfaced after one of the women approached the Badlapur primary health centre, claiming she had not been paid as promised. The primary health centre doctor, Jyotsna Sawant, alerted the local police, leading to the arrest of 3 women.Acting on the specific inputs, police raided the residence of Sulakshana Gadekar, who is believed to be the kingpin running an illegal operation from her home, where she stored injections used for stimulating ovulation.Investigators claimed Gadekar lured financially distressed women by offering money and administered ovulation-stimulating injections without proper medical consultation. The women then underwent illegal sonography-guided procedures conducted without proper doctors’ authorisation. The women were sent to IVF/ART centres where doctors extracted their eggs in operation theatres for sale.Police said the accused’s mobile phone contained photographs of injections used in pregnancy-related treatments, images captured during sonography procedures, photos of women, as well as of forged affidavits and other fabricated documents. Officers also recovered records indicating financial transactions linked to the alleged racket.The police complaint further alleged that Gadekar acted in collusion with individuals associated with sonography centres, IVF/ART centres, suppliers of hormonal injections, and those involved in preparing forged documents. Officials suspect multiple women were repeatedly used as donors, raising concerns of physical exploitation and serious health risks.Apart from Gadekar (44), police have also arrested Ashwini Chabuskwar (29) and Manjusha Wankhede (46). Police said Gadekar allegedly operated the racket, while the other two acted as agents, identifying and bringing women willing to undergo procedures in exchange for payment ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000. On Saturday, the accused were produced before a local court, which remanded them to seven days’ police custody. Police said custodial interrogation would help uncover the financial trail and identify other members of the network.Deputy commissioner of police Sachin Gore, Zone 3, Thane, said, “Three teams have been formed for a comprehensive investigation into the case. Further arrests are likely.” Police suspect the racket could be part of a wider, possibly national-level network involving illegal fertility-related practices. Further investigation is underway.
