Maharashtra to crack down on illegal IVF centres under MCOCA law
A major egg trafficking racket has been exposed in Ambernath, where fertility procedures were conducted without proper medical oversight. State authorities now plan to deploy organised crime laws against illegal fertility clinics.
Maharashtra's law enforcement agencies are preparing to launch a comprehensive crackdown on unauthorised in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics operating across the state, using the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to target criminal networks involved in unregulated fertility services.
Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi revealed that investigators have uncovered a sophisticated egg trafficking operation centred in Ambernath, an industrial town in Thane district. According to Azmi, the illegal network has been conducting egg retrieval procedures—a critical and medically sensitive component of IVF treatment—without the presence of qualified medical specialists. This violation of medical protocols exposes vulnerable women seeking fertility treatment to significant health risks, including infection, organ damage, and potentially life-threatening complications.
The discovery of this racket highlights systemic gaps in regulatory oversight of assisted reproductive technology clinics across the state. Egg retrieval, formally known as oocyte aspiration, requires trained embryologists, anaesthesiologists, and experienced reproductive surgeons working in sterile, certified facilities. The Ambernath operation allegedly circumvented these safety standards entirely, prioritising profit over patient welfare and potentially trafficking human reproductive material illegally.
By invoking MCOCA—a law typically reserved for combating mafia syndicates, drug trafficking, and organised criminal enterprises—the state government signals its intention to treat illegal IVF networks with the same severity as other serious organised crime. This represents an escalation in enforcement strategy, recognising that these operations often involve multiple criminal elements: medical fraud, human trafficking, unqualified practitioners, and financial exploitation of desperate couples.
The action comes at a time when demand for fertility treatment in India remains high, yet access to legitimate, affordable services remains limited. Unethical operators exploit this gap, luring patients with false promises and cut-rate fees while cutting corners on safety. Women from low-income backgrounds are particularly vulnerable.
Authorities are now expected to conduct raids on suspected illegal clinics across Ambernath, Thane, and potentially other regions. The state health department is also likely to strengthen licensing procedures and conduct surprise inspections of registered fertility centres to verify compliance with national assisted reproduction guidelines set by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
