Gurugram, Haryana: A couple from Gurugram has alleged that an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedure may have gone wrong after DNA tests reportedly showed that their twin daughters are not biologically related to either parent. The case has raised concerns about safeguards and accountability in assisted reproductive technology services and has prompted legal action.
Rahul Rathore and his wife, Meenu Rathore, welcomed twin girls earlier this year following IVF treatment. However, they later became concerned after noticing that the children's physical features differed from those of both parents.
Speaking to India Today, Meenu Rathore said, "I am pregnant. I have given birth to children. So how is it possible that I am not getting the DNA of those children? My husband is not getting it."
According to the couple, they subsequently underwent DNA testing. The couple stated that DNA testing excluded both maternity and paternity.
"We went for the DNA test. And in the reports of the DNA test, both the maternity and paternity tests failed. So one thing is clear from this that these children are not our biological children," Rahul Rathore said in the interview with India Today.
According to NDTV, Rahul Rathore said that a hospital in Dwarka had referred the couple to a fertility clinic in Greater Kailash, Delhi, for IVF treatment. NDTV further reported that the couple alleged that Dr Shivani Sachdev was overseeing their case at the fertility centre.
According to the couple's account cited by NDTV, doctors conducted IVF-related tests on Meenu Rathore on January 9, 2025, and assured them that the embryo would be developed using their sperm and egg. The embryo transfer reportedly took place on May 14, 2025. Meenu Rathore later gave birth to twin girls on January 5, 2026. These details have been reported by the couple and have not been independently verified by investigating authorities.
According to News18, the couple sought DNA testing after doctors reportedly advised genetic evaluation during an assessment for a minor health issue. The reports stated that certain physical characteristics observed during the evaluation prompted the recommendation for detailed genetic profiling.
The family has alleged either an embryo mix-up during IVF treatment or a baby swap after birth. Investigators have not determined the cause.
According to NDTV, the couple has alleged that embryos belonging to another couple may have been implanted into Meenu Rathore's womb.
A Delhi court has directed local police to register a case and investigate the allegations, according to NDTV.
According to India Today, the couple alleged that an FIR was registered only after judicial intervention, following months of unsuccessful attempts to seek police action.
According to News18, the couple had repeatedly sought explanations from the fertility centre, requested access to medical records and verification logs, and approached the courts after they did not receive a formal explanation from the clinic regarding the alleged mismatch.
The couple has stated that they had been seeking answers for several months before obtaining relief through the courts. Speaking to India Today, Rahul Rathore said he had been approaching police authorities for the past five months.
"I have been roaming around the police station for the past 5 months. I have requested everywhere. Finally, we got relief in court," he said.
"I still don't understand why my FIR was not filed in the first 3 months. On April 1, my FIR was put on hold," he added.
Meenu Rathore also alleged that she had been required to spend long hours at a police station shortly after undergoing a caesarean delivery.
The family has stated that their primary concern is determining what happened to their biological children, if an error indeed occurred.
"This is our only request," Meenu Rathore said in the India Today interview. "Please investigate. A fair investigation so that the truth is revealed."
"Where are our children? Where are the parents of these two innocent children?" Rahul Rathore asked.
NDTV reported that Meenu Rathore said, "Just as I am searching for my child, the mother whose child I have must also be yearning for them."
She further stated, "Even though these girls are not ours, we are taking care of them."
According to NDTV, Rahul Rathore has requested that investigators preserve IVF records, embryo-related documents, laboratory records, electronic data, and CCTV footage from the hospital and fertility centre as part of the investigation.
Rahul Rathore also alleged that despite a June 5 court order directing authorities to seize important IVF-related records from the fertility centre, the process had not progressed as expected. This claim has been reported by multiple media outlets but has not been independently verified.
The allegations have renewed discussions about safeguards in assisted reproductive technology.
IVF is a form of assisted reproductive technology in which eggs are fertilised with sperm outside the body under laboratory conditions. The resulting embryo is then transferred into the uterus. The process involves multiple stages, including the collection, identification, storage, and transfer of reproductive material.
The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, establishes standards for the registration and functioning of ART clinics and banks in India, including requirements related to record-keeping and traceability during assisted reproductive procedures.
According to reports by News18, standard IVF laboratories employ several safeguards designed to minimise the risk of errors. These typically include patient identification checks, electronic barcoding systems, mandatory dual witnessing by embryologists, and documentation and cross-checking procedures before embryo transfer.
Experts note that such protocols are intended to ensure traceability and accuracy throughout the IVF process. However, investigators have not established whether any safeguards failed, were bypassed, or were improperly followed in the present case.
At the time of publication, authorities had not publicly released details regarding the findings of the investigation. The allegations have not been independently verified by investigating authorities.
The matter remains under investigation.
DNA parentage testing compares specific genetic markers inherited from biological parents. In maternity testing, a child's DNA profile is assessed against that of the alleged mother, while paternity testing compares the child's profile with that of the alleged father. Such tests are widely accepted in legal and forensic settings when conducted by accredited laboratories following proper chain-of-custody procedures.
In this case, the couple has stated that DNA testing excluded both maternity and paternity. The results cited by the family have formed the basis of their request for a comprehensive investigation into the IVF process and related medical records.
(Rh/MSM)