Haryana Doctor, Repeat Offender under PNDT Act absconding after another raid

Hisar: In a joint investigation, officials from the Health Departments of Hisar and Sirsa recently busted an illegal sex determination racket on Saturday. As a result, three individuals have been detained in connection with this case, while the prime accused, a doctor and owner of a private hospital remains at large. 

A significant crackdown occurred following a raid conducted by health officials at a colony in Barwala town in Haryana. Based on substantial evidence, the accused who were allegedly acting as touts were taken into police custody. 

According to the health officials, the prime accused who is currently on the run has a history of running a sex determination racket in the state. This is the fifth time, the health department busted a racket run by the owner of Anantram Janta Hospital in Barwala. 

Also read- 5 Gynaecologists, 2 Ayurveda Doctors Held For Running Illegal Sex Determination Racket In Warangal

Earlier, four similar cases were registered by the police in 1999, 2015, 2018 and 2021. However, he was granted bail after being apprehended for the offence. Similarly, this time a fifth case has been registered at the Barwala police station against the doctor and three others under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act and certain Sections of the IPC.

Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, (PNDT) 1994 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to stop female foeticides and arrest the declining sex ratio in India. The act banned prenatal sex determination.

To nab the accused red-handed, the health department officials came up with a carefully planned sting operation. The operation involved a team comprising of Dr Bharat Bhushan, Dr Harsimran, a pregnant woman named Saroj, and several other doctors who acted as decoys.

At first, the team contacted the female accused who was an alleged tout of the accused doctor for a sex determination test for Saroj. Following this, the female accused told them to visit her near a service station in Barwala in the evening. Subsequently, Saroj along with an ambulance driver Surender went to the designated place at around 9 p.m., The Tribune reports.

Later, the female accused along with her friend came on a motorcycle and demanded Rs 50,000 for the test. After Saroj paid the amount to the duo, she was blindfolded and taken to a house in Krishna Colony. The accused doctor was waiting there to check up on Saroj. He brought an ultrasound machine and checked the sex of the foetus and disappeared from there.

The accused were caught red-handed as soon as they came to drop Saroj informing her that she was carrying a girl. The team hiding near the spot came out and arrested them. 

The arrests were carried out after the Sirsa Health Department received a tip-off about an illegal sex determination running in Barwala. Moreover, the person behind the racket was reported to be the doctor who formed another gang to carry the racket.

Later, PNDT nodal officer, Dr Prabhu Dayal reported the incident to the police and the accused were detained. 

Also read- Illegal Hospital Busted, Quack Held For Illegal Sex Determination In Gurugram