Sperm Smuggling Racket Busted Near Mumbai, Samples Were Being Sold To Doctors For Profit

In a shocking case, an illegal human sperm storage and trafficking racket has been uncovered in Virar, near Mumbai. Acting on a tip-off, the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation carried out a major operation, leading to the arrest of two individuals involved in the illicit activity.

The case came to light during a surprise inspection by the civic body’s health department. Officials discovered that human sperm was being illegally collected, stored and sold under the cover of a medical equipment business operating as ‘Jivdani Scientific’. Despite presenting itself as a legitimate enterprise, the facility had no government approval or registration to function as a fertility or assisted reproductive technology (ART) centre. Investigations also revealed that the network had links extending to other states.

On March 9, the municipal corporation’s PCPNDT and ART departments received confidential information about suspicious medical activities at a shop located in a building opposite the Manvelpada Road subway. Acting swiftly, a team conducted a raid at the premises. During the raid, officials found that the premises had been equipped to collect and store human sperm without authorisation. A young man, identified as Vishal Owale, was present at the time and claimed that an IVF machine was being assembled there.

The shop owners, Mayur Sankhe (49) and Kamlesh Khut (48), were initially absent but later arrived at the scene. Upon questioning, both Sankhe and Khut admitted to operating the illegal facility. They confessed that they had neither obtained permission to run a fertility centre nor registered the establishment under the relevant laws. They further revealed that frozen semen samples were sourced on demand from multiple locations, including a Cryo Bank in Delhi, Intracell Semen Bank in Ranchi, and INC Semen Bank in Patna. These samples were stored in cryogenic containers and sold to doctors for profit.

Authorities seized more than 40 human sperm samples, along with 45 vials of artificial insemination donor (AID) sperm. The samples have been sent to a forensic laboratory for analysis. The raid also led to the confiscation of specialised equipment and chemicals, including three-litre IRC Cryosil cryogenic containers filled with liquid nitrogen, as well as three empty containers and a large 55-litre liquid nitrogen storage unit. Cryogenic containers from Inox and Indian Oil were also recovered, which were being used in the storage process.

A case has been registered against the accused under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Act, 2021, along with other relevant provisions, including Sections 223(a) and 223(b) of the Indian Penal Code. Both individuals have been taken into custody, and further legal proceedings are underway.

Officials stated that the crackdown has dealt a significant blow to illegal medical operations in the Vasai-Virar region. Meanwhile, the police are continuing their investigation to identify and apprehend the main mastermind behind the racket. Further inquiries are being carried out by the Virar police, and authorities are examining the wider network linked to the illegal trade.