Sex determination racket busted: Doctor among 3 arrested

Salem: A doctor, his wife and an assistant have been arrested for allegedly running an illegal sex determination racket at a private hospital in Edappadi, Salem district. The doctor is accused of taking hefty amounts from pregnant women to reveal the gender of their unborn babies.

According to officials, the doctor was allegedly charging Rs 15,000 - 20,000 per procedure. The arrested persons are now under interrogation.

The incident came to light after the district health department received a tip-off about unlawful prenatal sex determination at Aravind Hospital, located on the Salem–Edappadi main road.

Also read- Rs 15,000 per procedure: PHC gynaecologist, nurse held in sex determination racket

Following the tip-off, senior health officials conducted discreet surveillance and trapped the culprits. For this, a special enforcement squad was formed, which was led by Joint Director of Health Services, Salem, S Nandhini, Deputy Director of Health Services S Soundammal and health official Yogananthan.

On Monday, the team entered Aravind Hospital and closely monitored its operations. During a surprise inspection, they allegedly found the doctor performing illegal sex determination on a pregnant woman.

During the raid, officials also seized more than 80 high-end mobile phones and scanning equipment allegedly used in the illegal operations, reports TNIE.

Following the inspection, the team, along with police assistance, detained the doctor along with his wife and assistant. The hospital premises have been sealed now. Further investigation is underway.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a small-sized foreign-made sonography machine was being illegally sold for up to Rs 10 lakh across the country. The Rajasthan Health Department's pre-conception and prenatal diagnostic techniques (PCPNDT) team seized such a machine and busted a nationwide racket involved in the illegal trading of portable sonography machines.

Also read- Illegal Sonography Machine Racket Selling for Rs 10 lakh busted in Jaipur