Violations of MTP Act: Absconding for a month, Haryana Gynaecologist finally arrested by police

The peon, whose name had also come up in the matter, is still on the run.

Earlier this month, Medical Dialogues had reported about the duo attached to a Panchkula based hospital. They were accused of conducting an abortion of the female foetus and a video of the doctor demanding Rs 20,000 for the job had surfaced following which a case was registered against them.

The incident came to light on February 20th when Civil Surgeon Dr Jasjeet Kaur had received a video on WhatsApp, in which the gynaecologist allegedly sought Rs 20,000 from two Patiala residents Singh ad Arora, for aborting a female foetus.

Read Also: Gynaecologist Booked For Allegedly Violating MTP Act; Applies For Anticipatory Bail

The video was filmed secretly by Singh on his mobile phone which showed him meeting the doctor and telling her that his wife was pregnant with their third girl child and they wanted to abort it. In response, the doctor offered to carry out the abortion at their house in exchange for the amount.

Subsequently, the Civil Surgeon constituted a seven-member committee to inquire into the alleged facilitating of illegal medical termination of pregnancy of a four-month foetus.

In its report, the inquiry committee stated that the accused doctor was performing illegal MTPs in connivance with her peon for monetary gains. She had been performing illegal MTPs at her house too.

Based on the report, the authorities lodged the complaint against the gynaecologist booking them under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 166 (public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person), 168 (public servant unlawfully engaging in trade), 315 (act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause it to die after birth), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) and 511 (attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) besides under the MTP Act and Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

"As per the preliminary report, Dr Bhargav was showing her intentions to perform medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) of a four-month pregnant woman at her home for Rs 20,000, despite being told that the woman already has two daughters and has come after the test. The report further shows the involvement of Baljinder, peon, in the matter," read the FIR.

However, when the police officials went to arrest the duo, they were found to be absconding. Sub-Inspector Brij Pal, who is the investigation officer, had informed that when they had conducted raids on the houses of the doctor and her peon, but they remained absent at the time of the raid.

During the raid, the sleuths seized various kinds of allopathic medicines in the form of injectables, mostly used for conducting an abortion. The allopathic medicines were reportedly without requisite drugs licence and purchase bills. The doctor's OPD cabin was also sealed and the inquiry team went through documents in her cabin and locker at the hospital.

The copy of the preliminary inquiry report, a sealed box containing the medicines recovered from the house, list of recovered currency notes, the inquire committee's report and a DVD containing videos and CCTV footage have been enclosed with the FIR. Afterwards, the Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij had ordered her suspension on February 23rd.

Two days later, at the time of the inquiry, the doctor had admitted that she took Rs 8,000 from the complaint in advance for performing an MTP. She also handed over the currency notes to the committee.

Later, the duo individually filed applications seeking anticipatory bail, which had been rejected.

Now, more than 3 weeks into the case, the police officials apprehended the doctor.

Officials privy to the investigation said the doctor was living at the flat of one of her acquaintances in a group housing society in Zirakpur. Sources said Bhargav had called one of her relatives after which the special investigation team (SIT) traced her location and nabbed her, reports HT. As per the information, the doctor did not cooperate with the SIT and also refused to disclose anything about her phone. She was taken to the Women Police Station in Sector 5, Panchkula, and will be produced before a local court.

TOI adds about the patient's statement to the police. She narrated how she was cornered to pay Rs 20,000 to get her baby girl aborted. She has also named a class IV employee of the civil hospital being instrumental in the deal.

Read Also: Cabinet nod to amendments in MTP Act increasing abortion limit to 24 weeks