Kolhapur sex determination racket: 2 hospital employees arrested

Kolhapur: Two employees of a private hospital have been arrested for their alleged involvement in an illegal prenatal sex determination and abortion racket in Kolhapur, taking the total number of arrests in the case to nine out of 16 accused. 

According to the police, the two hospital employees allegedly acted as intermediaries for the suspected operators of the racket. They reportedly brought pregnant women to the group for illegal sex determination tests and helped connect them with those arranging further procedures.

Investigators suspect that women found to be carrying female foetuses were subsequently directed towards abortion services. The alleged involvement of hospital staff has also brought the role of healthcare establishments and intermediaries under scrutiny as the investigation continues.

The two accused were associated with a private hospital in Kolhapur and allegedly facilitated contact between pregnant women and other members of the network.

According to the Times of India report, the accused have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act, Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Act, Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act and Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.

Police said all nine arrested accused have been remanded to magisterial custody. Investigators are now working to identify the remaining accused and establish how the different individuals allegedly operated together. 

The case is part of a wider investigation into an alleged network involved in illegal sex determination and abortions in the Kolhapur region. Authorities are also examining the links between intermediaries, medical establishments and other persons suspected of facilitating the activities. 

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in a major crackdown on an alleged illegal abortion network, police in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district have arrested a former Civil Surgeon and senior health official accused of carrying out hundreds of terminations involving female foetuses over several years.