Chennai: The family of a 24-year-old woman approached the police on Monday alleging cheating by a fertility clinic in Ramapuram after they used her services as a surrogate mother. J. Sathya of Ganeshapuram, Vyasarpadi, gave birth to twins on July 4 (Saturday) after spending the last six months at the hospital at Thirumalai nagar, Ramapuram.

In September last year, Sathya approached the hospital on suggestion by a neighbour. “I was told by my neighbour that they would pay me Rs 50, 000 if I donate my eggs. But, when I went there, I was told that they needed surrogate mothers,” Sathya told DC from the hospital.

After a week, Sathya made up her mind and accepted to go through the process. Sathya claims that she was promised a sum of Rs 10 lakh for each kid then, after which she agreed to the deal as it would help her financially.

“I didn’t even inform my husband then and after a month when he learnt about it, things started to strain between us,” Sathya said. Her husband, Jayakumar (25) is a casual laborer and the couple has two children. The hospital management meanwhile was paying the woman Rs 7, 000 every month for her expenses.

However, issues started to crop up after Sathya gave birth to the twins, as the family claim that the hospital promised her ten lakh rupees for each kid. After I gave birth to the children on July 4, they blindfolded me and plugged my ears while handing over the kid to the parents. When I asked for payment I was told to approach on July 9 (Thursday), Sathya recalled. However, as she approached the management, she was told that she would be paid only Rs 3.5 lakh. “They even told me that they would deduct my monthly allowances too from the amount,” Sathya said.

Sathya’s mother Susheela and her aunt, Nageshwari sought intervention from the Royala Nagar cops alleging cheating. “Her husband fought with her and left their two kids after this whole debacle,” Nageshwari told DC. Royala Nagar police have initiated investigations into the incident, but are yet to register a case. “We have recorded statement from both the parties. We have also sought the medical records of the woman,” Inspector Ravikumar said.

When contacted, a spokesperson at the fertility clinic dismissed the claims as baseless. “The woman is quoting imaginary figures. In all fertility clinics, the surrogate mothers are paid three lakhs for single delivery and 3.5 lakh in case of twins,” a clinician requesting anonymity told DC. The clinician further added that the woman was supposed to be discharged on Monday and was creating issues influenced by a vested interest.