Illegal sex determination racket busted in Kolhapur; Homoeopathy doctor, agent arrested

Kolhapur: The Kolhapur police on Tuesday busted an illegal sex determination racket operating at a private facility in Bidri village, Kagal taluka, arresting a homoeopathy doctor and his agent.

According to the news reports, the raid took place around 9 pm on Monday, following complaints that certain medical practitioners in the district were conducting illegal prenatal sex determination tests and facilitating female foeticide. Superintendent of Police Yogesh Kumar ordered an immediate investigation into the matter.

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Acting on a tip-off, a team led by assistant inspector Kranti Patil conducted the raid using a decoy pregnant woman. Police said a 45-year-old agent of Borwade in Kagal taluka contacted the decoy and claimed he could arrange sex determination through the doctor for Rs 22,000.

The decoy, who was four months pregnant, posed as a client and underwent the alleged illegal sonography test. As soon as the agent accepted the cash, the police swooped in and arrested both accused.

During the raid, authorities seized a portable sonography machine, abortion-related medicines, gel bottles, medical registration certificates, two tablet devices, OPD and billing registers, three mobile phones, Rs 12.30 lakh in cash, and a Toyota Fortuner vehicle.

"The arrested homoeopath has other cases registered against him for illegal sex determination. One at the Radhanagari police station, another at the Bhudargad police station, and a private complaint registered before the first class judicial magistrate Kagal," said assistant inspector Patil. According to the police, the homoeopath was out on bail in the previous cases, reports TOI.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Superintendent of Police Yogesh Kumar said, “The doctor has been previously booked in similar cases at Radhanagari and Bhudargad police stations, and a private complaint is also pending before a Kagal court.”

The Ispurli police have registered an FIR under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, and the investigation is ongoing.

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