Pune gynaecologist arrested, BHMS doctor on the run in illegal abortion case

Pune: A gynaecologist was arrested, while a (Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery) BHMS practitioner remains absconding after the Yavat police registered a case in connection with alleged illegal abortions being conducted at Lavangare Maternity and Infertility Hospital in the Kedgaon area of Maharashtra's Pune district.

According to Police Inspector Narayan Deshmukh of Yavat Police Station, the investigation into illegal sex determination and abortion cases in Pune's Daund Taluka area is still underway. This is another case of illegal abortion which has come to light at Lavangare Maternity and Infertility Hospital in Kedgaon, news agency ANI reported.

Police said that the illegal abortion case was uncovered by a district-level committee on June 6 at around 1:45 pm during an inspection at the hospital.

Also Read:Faridabad doctor among 4 booked in illegal sex determination racket

As per the PTI report, the gynaecologist has been arrested, an official said, adding that the BHMS practitioner, who runs a maternity and infertility hospital in Kedgaon, is on the run.

The official added that investigations revealed that the doctor, despite not being a qualified gynaecologist and not being legally authorised to perform abortions, allegedly maintained an illegal stock of abortion pills and carried out abortions unlawfully. Records further showed that abortion pills were issued to patients in the name of another accused.

Based on a complaint filed by Sachin Vitthal Gujar, Medical Superintendent of Daund Sub-District Hospital, Yavat Police have booked the accused under Sections 318(2), 319(1), 125, 91, 88, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 5(2) and 5A(2) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971.

Earlier, a separate investigation had revealed that a bogus doctor had allegedly been conducting illegal fetal sex determination using a portable ultrasound machine. Police investigations found that the accused was in contact with several doctors and allegedly referred pregnant women carrying female fetuses to them for abortions.

The sex determination racket uncovered in Kedgaon on May 20 has taken a significant turn. Since the case came to light, an FIR had been registered against five individuals, including three doctors. "Charges have also been filed against both of them," an official added. 

Police arrested one of the doctors on Sunday. In connection with this case, two other doctors previously booked by the Yavat Police, one- a resident of Kikvi, Taluka Bhor and the other from Uruli Kanchan, are currently absconding.

While the probe into the sex determination and abortion racket is ongoing, this latest illegal abortion case from Kedgaon has once again raised serious concerns about unlawful medical practices in the region.

The investigation has recently been transferred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).

Also Read:Doctor Among 13 booked as Haryana-UP Police Bust Illegal Sex Determination Racket