Illegal Activity Exposed in Surprise Raid
Salem: In a decisive action following a recent tip-off, a doctor and a middleman were arrested on Friday for illegally disclosing the sex of a foetus at the Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital.
A team led by Dr. Nandhini, Salem District Joint Director (Medical Services), conducted a surprise raid in the hospital’s ultrasound scan room. During the operation, a doctor was caught revealing the sex of an unborn child to a pregnant woman—an explicit violation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.
Arrests and Legal Action Initiated
As reported by The Hindu, the team apprehended the doctor along with mediator Sri Ram, and handed them over to the Salem Government Hospital police station. A formal case was registered, and both accused were arrested. They are now in judicial custody at Salem Central Prison, while the police continue to investigate the matter further, according to sources cited by TOI.
PCPNDT Act: Safeguarding Gender Equity
The PCPNDT Act, enacted in 1994 and amended in 2003, strictly prohibits the disclosure of the foetal sex to combat the rampant issue of female foeticide and promote gender equity. Violation of the Act carries severe penalties, including imprisonment, substantial fines, and cancellation of medical licenses.
Previous Crackdown on Similar Rackets
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported a separate but related crackdown in Salem, where a special investigation team busted an illegal sex determination and abortion racket. That operation led to the arrest of a female gynecologist, a nurse, and four middlemen. The probe team comprised officials from the health departments of Salem and Krishnagiri districts, along with local police, exposing a deeply disturbing and organized illegal operation.
