Human Egg Trafficking Racket Busted In Badlapur; Four Women Arrested, Over 40 Victims Identified
Human Egg Trafficking Racket Busted In Badlapur; Four Women Arrested, Over 40 Victims Identified
Thane | February 24, 2026: An investigation into an illegal human egg extraction and trafficking operation in Badlapur has uncovered a sprawling inter-state network with links extending to Bengaluru and Telangana, police officials confirmed on Tuesday. Four women have been arrested so far, while authorities believe more than 40 women were exploited as part of the racket.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Gore said the latest arrest was made on Monday night. The accused, Sonal Garewal, is alleged to have assisted in conducting illegal sonography procedures and storing ovulation-inducing drugs and equipment at her residence, despite having no formal medical qualifications.
Police teams have seized illegal hormonal injections and medical supplies valued between ₹9.5 lakh and ₹10 lakh from multiple locations. “Four dedicated teams are working simultaneously to identify other illegal centres and individuals connected to this operation,” Gore said.
The case surfaced after a woman approached the police, alleging she was never paid for donating her eggs. This complaint led investigators to raid the home of the alleged kingpin, Sulakshana Gadekar, where a large stock of hormonal injections and medical materials was recovered.
Subsequent arrests included Ashwini Chabuskwar and Manjusha Wankhede, strengthening suspicions of a well-organised inter-state syndicate.
Investigators revealed that women were allegedly lured with promises of ₹25,000 to ₹30,000 per donation. After receiving hormone injections in Badlapur, they were reportedly transported to multiple cities, including Nagpur, Pune, and Nashik, as well as locations in southern India, for the extraction procedures.
Officials stated that preliminary evidence indicates gross violations of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, 2021, which allows egg donation only once in a lifetime. In one case, a woman was allegedly subjected to the procedure 33 times.
Two private hospitals in Ulhasnagar and Thane are also under investigation for conducting sonography tests without valid medical prescriptions. Authorities are currently examining medical records and compliance documents to determine the extent of their involvement.
Police officials said the probe is ongoing, and more arrests are likely as the inter-state network is further dismantled.
