Rahul Rathore (41) and his wife Meenu (39) had long dreamt of having a large family. Already parents to two daughters, and well past their 30s, the couple who live in Gurgaon decided in late 2024 to undergo the grueling process of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF)

On January 5 this year, Meenu gave birth to twin girls. But soon after, the couple noticed that the babies looked nothing like either parent and found themselves confronting a question they never imagined: whose children were they raising?

DNA tests eventually confirmed their worst fears: the girls were not biologically related to either parent.

Her voice breaking, Meenu said: “I had to endure four months of injections. I carried those innocent children in my womb for nine months. Who are those children? I just want to know.”

Following the shocking discovery, the couple moved court alleging an embryo mix-up at a Delhi fertility clinic. After several hearings, a Delhi court in March ruled in their favour and ordered that an FIR be lodged. On June 5, it also dismissed a petition by the hospital challenging the previous order.

According to the couple, their gynecologist introduced them to an IVF specialist, leading them to the doorsteps of SCI IVF Hospital in Greater Kailash.

On January 9, 2025, the diagnostic workups began. Three months later, on May 14 that year, the medical team delivered miraculous news: five healthy embryos had successfully developed. That very day, three of those embryos were implanted.

On January 5 this year, Meenu gave birth to twin baby girls at Max Super Specialty Hospital in Dwarka. But their joy was short-lived as a nagging doubt took hold: the twins looked nothing like either parent.

Desperate for peace of mind, Rahul, who works as a builder, said he tried to arrange a DNA test through the IVF clinic, only to meet the hospital’s heavy resistance. The couple eventually submitted samples to two independent DNA testing agencies on January 8, 2026.

The findings arrived on January 10 and 14: According to the genetic profiles, the twin girls were not biologically related to Rahul or Meenu. The reports revealed the infants were not even biologically related to one another; they were completely anonymous donor embryos.

On January 17, the couple approached the police but when no action was taken, they moved court in March. On March 23, Metropolitan Magistrate Devanshi Janmeja issued a scathing order directing the police to register an FIR against the clinic’s doctors.

In her order, the judge observed: “From careful scrutiny of the record, it appears that all facts and circumstances taken up together hint at commission of grave and heinous cognizable offences which are not limited to forgery and flouting of statutory guidelines to conduct IVF procedures, but could possibly lead to unearthing of child trafficking and kidnapping conspiracy which needs to be investigated since the possibility of the actual children of the complainant’s being kidnapped or trafficked cannot be ruled out at this stage.”

The court order also noted that as per the Action Taken Report (ATR) submitted by the investigating officer (IO), “… officials at SCI IVF Hospital… said the complainant couple opted for donor embryos on their own volition since no viable embryos were formed using their own gametes… Prior to the procedure, both parties had given written informed consent on May 14, 2025, through affidavit and Form 1 thereby explicitly agreeing to the use of an anonymous donor oocytes and sperm…”

Meenu vehemently denied this: “… They’re saying I’ve filled out the consent form. The timings in the consent form show a time when I was under the influence of anesthesia.”

Rahul added, “I’ve spent the last five months studying the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Act. The consent form should have been formally registered. This one hasn’t even been notarised.”

Another order passed on March 30 by Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Mohammad Ehtesham of Saket Court directed the police to file an FIR without delay.

“As considerable time has already been lost, the SHO, PS-Greater Kailash, is hereby directed to register the FIR forthwith, without delay, and to proceed with the investigation, as directed,” the ASJ said.

The hospital filed a revision plea.

For over two months, the case hung in limbo, leaving the family in agony. Finally, on June 5, Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh of Saket Court dismissed the hospital’s revision petition.

“Indeed, the Court has found a semblance of irregularity in records maintained by the revisionist hospital, leading to the possibility that the allegations of the complainant couple could be correct. Considering the technicality involved in the IVF procedure as well as in record keeping by hospital, in pursuance of Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, alongwith rules framed thereunder, the complainants could not be expected to furnish evidence in support of their allegations. The relevant evidence is in possession and custody of the revisionist hospital and requires investigation by police.”

Judge Singh noted that the couple alleged the hospital “created forged documents with their forged signatures to create the false impression that their own egg and sperm were not viable to create an embryo,” pointing out fake certificate numbers on an insurance record for a purported donor.

The Indian Express reached out to doctors at the IVF hospital for comment but received no response.

Police said the FIR was lodged last month against SCI hospital under sections including cheating and further investigation is underway.

Despite the court ruling, the Rathore’s said their ordeal is far from over.

On June 10, the Appropriate Authority for ART and Surrogacy under the ART and Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, functioning under the office of the special secretary, health and family welfare department, Delhi government, issued a notice for a hearing on the matter on June 12.

Standing outside the Delhi Secretariat after the hearing on Friday, Rahul said, “The ART department can’t spare even three minutes to listen to our demands. We’ve been struggling to get answers for five months… I haven’t been able to go to work for the past six months.”

Meenu added, “The babies are already five months old… we have the paperwork. We have everything. Yet no one is willing to hear us.”

Criticising the profit-driven nature of the IVF industry, the couple said they just want the truth.

“The hospital authorities appear to care only about money and protecting their positions,” fumed Rahul. “What’s the point of all that money? Don’t they have children of their own? Don’t they feel compassion?”

Meenu said, “Earn a living any way you choose, but don’t make money off children…”

In the middle of their heartbreak, they have not forsaken the children whom they affectionately call Chiku and Strawberry.

“As far as I’m concerned, they are both my daughters until their real parents come forward themselves… I’ll raise them to be strong and brave,” Rahul said.