Surrogacy row: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan get a clean chit; probe committee chides hospital

The committee formed to look into the surrogacy issue involving South Indian actor Nayanthara and her director husband Vignesh Shivan has given a clean chit to the couple, even as it reprimanded the private hospital for not maintaining records of the list of surrogacy cases.

The committee, formed by the directorate of medical services under the Tamil Nadu state health department, submitted its detailed report on Wednesday, taking into consideration the affidavit filed by Nayanthara about the couple registering their marriage six years ago.

The committee, in its report, said the couple adhered to the rules laid down by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) for intending parents. With their marriage registered on March 11, 2016, Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan entered into an agreement with the surrogate mother in November 2021. The report further said the agreement was made months before the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act came into force in India.

“Oocytes and embryo was formed in 2020. The intending parents entered into an agreement with the surrogate mother in November 2021. In March 2022, the embryo was transferred into the surrogate mother’s uterus. The twin boy babies were handed over to the couple on October 19,” read the report submitted by the committee.

The committee also suggested that a show cause notice be issued to the private hospital for not maintaining proper records on surrogacy and the list of surrogate mothers. It has also suggested that the hospital be shut down temporarily for not maintaining proper records.

The star couple had shared the news about them becoming parents on social media on October 19. A controversy erupted following the announcement with many alleging that Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan did not adhere to the ICMR rules.