According to the police, the two women arrived from Bangkok on Thursday afternoon and were stopped by immigration officers after they failed to give satisfactory answers regarding the purpose of their foreign visit. (Express Photo)
The Mumbai police arrested two women on Friday after immigration officers intercepted them at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport while returning from Bangkok, suspecting their involvement in an illegal surrogacy and egg donation racket linked to an In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) centre in Thane.
The accused have been identified as Sunoti Belel, 44, a resident of Kalyan, and Seema Vinzarat, 29, a resident of Thane.
During questioning, Vinzarat allegedly revealed that she had accompanied Belel to Bangkok for surrogacy and egg donation-related medical tests, for which she had been paid a substantial amount. The police said that Vinzarat disclosed that she had come in contact with Bagul about three years ago and, through her, allegedly sold her eggs at a hospital in Andheri and at clinics in Kenya and Thailand.
According to the police, the two women arrived from Bangkok on Thursday afternoon and were stopped by immigration officers after they failed to give satisfactory answers regarding the purpose of their foreign visit.
Following this disclosure, the Sahar police in Mumbai were alerted, and both women were taken into custody and questioned separately. During the interrogation, the police learned that Belel and her partner, Sangeeta Bagul, who is currently absconding, had started an IVF centre in Thane in 2024.
According to the police, the women allegedly supplied unmarried women as egg donors and surrogate mothers to fertility clinics in India and abroad by using forged marriage certificates that falsely showed the women as married.
Commercial surrogacy is prohibited under the Surrogacy Regulation Act, 2021. A case has been registered, and efforts are underway to trace and arrest Bagul, the police said.
Manish Kumar Pathak is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates substantial Expertise and Authority across the complex field of crime reporting, with a strong focus on law enforcement actions, fraud, and cyber security challenges facing the metropolitan region.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for the nationally recognized daily, The Indian Express, providing his content with high Trustworthiness.
Geographical Focus: Provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of breaking news and investigative matters across Mumbai and the surrounding regions (e.g., Thane, Vasai).
Core Authority: His reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial beats, including:
Cyber & Financial Crime: Extensive coverage of sophisticated scams, including cases involving high-value cyber fraud, stock market manipulation scams, and fraudsters using government figures to gain trust.
Law Enforcement & Investigation: Reports directly on major police actions, including arrests made by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in fraud cases (e.g., MHADA flat scams) and detailed coverage of murder and kidnapping investigations.
Major Incidents & Public Safety: Covers significant incidents like building collapses, road accidents, and public safety issues such as theft at large public events.
Defence & Maritime: Also covers key updates regarding the Indian Navy, including the commissioning of new vessels and strategic defense announcements.
Manish Kumar Pathak's consistent focus on crime, fraud, and the workings of the Mumbai police system establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for critical news in Western India. ... Read More
