A major illegal abortion and sex determination racket has been uncovered in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, leading to the arrest of four individuals, including two nurse sisters, while the alleged mastermind remains at large. The operation was conducted in the Satara area by a joint team of the municipal corporation’s health department and the police, resulting in the shutdown of a long-running illegal facility.
The arrested nurse sisters, trained as General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) nurses, were found to be running an organized network for illegal abortions and sex determination tests, exploiting their professional qualifications. Acting on specific information, a raid was carried out at the premises where a woman was undergoing an abortion and was discovered in severe pain.
The woman was promptly rescued and hospitalized for urgent medical attention. Additionally, the police arrested the individual who had brought her to the center. Furthermore, a doctor involved in sonography tests and patient referrals to the illegal facility has also been apprehended. The alleged mastermind, Jyoti Pawar, managed to escape arrest but her residence was raided, leading to the seizure of medical equipment and a substantial supply of abortion-related drugs.
Preliminary findings suggest that the accused were charging around Rs 15,000 for sex determination tests and significantly higher amounts for abortions, raising serious concerns about the persistence of illegal medical practices, especially those related to sex determination, prohibited by Indian law. Authorities suspect the racket may have operated in multiple locations, potentially extending to areas like Sillod, prompting the formation of special police teams to track down the absconding suspects and unravel the broader network.
Health Officer Paras Mandlecha emphasized that the crackdown was based on confidential information, with illegal equipment and medicines seized from the site. He affirmed that stringent action would be taken against all involved in the illicit network. Police have indicated that further investigations are ongoing, with more arrests expected in connection with the racket.
