Chennai, June 7(BPNS)

Tamil Nadu health department has commenced a probe into the role played by the private hospitals of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh over the embryo sale racket on a 16-year-old girl at Erode. The minor girl had complained that she was forced into sexual relationship with her mother’s paramour and sold her embryos eight times.

The mother of the girl, her lover, and an agent Malathi were arrested by the Erode police. The Tamil Nadu health department had commenced an inquiry following the complaint of the girl, that she was taken to private hospitals in Erode, Salem, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.

While two major hospitals in Erode and Salem are already under the scanner, the Tamil Nadu health department vigilance team has already commenced a probe into the private hospitals in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh regarding their connection in the case.

A senior officer with the Tamil Nadu health department while speaking to BPNS said, “ The investigation is on and we have already conducted searches at  a private hospital in Erode and Salem and further investigations are being conducted in association with the Tamil Nadu police to find out whether there are other instances of illegal sale of embryos.”

It may be recalled that following the complaint of the 16-year-old girl, an investigation has revealed that the mother of the girl had collected Rs 20,000 for each embryo sale and the agent Malathi was paid Rs 5000 out of this as her commission. Police said that the girl was subjected to embryo sale eight times.

Erode police sources told BPNS that the investigation is being conducted to find out whether a large racket involving hospitals and touts is working to procure embryos for money exploiting vulnerable minor girls.