Banglore : Head of surrogacy clinic held for 'cheating'

Bangalore (Deccan Herald) : The founder of a hi-tech surrogacy clinic in Basaveshwarnagar has been arrested and sent to jail on the charge of “cheating” more than 30 people who alleged that he failed to keep his promise to help them get babies through surrogacy and egg donation.

K T Gurumurthy, the founder and managing director of Shrushti Global Medicare and Research Foundation, was arrested by Kamakshipalya police after more than 30 people made a complaint of cheating against him.

The complainants alleged that Gurumurthy had pocketed lakhs of rupees from them, promising to help them get babies through surrogacy and egg donation, police said. Gurumurthy was produced before the 5th ACMM court which remanded him in judicial custody till January 27, said DCP (West) Labhu Ram. He added that police would investigate whether the foundation had obtained the necessary permission to conduct the surrogacy procedures and how Gurumurthy “cheated” innocent people.

The foundation, on its website (http://www.shrushtifertility.com/home.html), has stated that it is the “one and only hi-tech surrogate centre in South India offering comprehensive, value-based assisted reproductive technology programmes for clients across the world since 1999.”

A 29-member team runs the foundation. “We ensure that egg donation and the surrogacy arrangements through us are managed by an attorney, doctors and psychologists. This team assists in providing prompt, personal service to help make the right decision regarding your egg donors, surrogates or intended parents,” says an introduction on the website.