Special Medical Team Cracks Statewide Racket
Salem: A five-member special medical team from Krishnagiri and Salem districts has busted a mobile illegal prenatal sex-determination racket operating out of Vazhapadi in Salem. The breakthrough came after a meticulously planned decoy operation, leading to the arrest of three individuals under the stringent Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.
Accused Learned Ultrasound Scanning Through YouTube
Officials revealed a shocking detail: the prime accused, with education only up to Class 12, learned to operate an ultrasound machine by watching YouTube tutorials. He reportedly purchased an old scan machine from Mettupalayam, installed it inside a car, and travelled across multiple districts—Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, and Villupuram—conducting illegal gender determination scans.
Gang Charged Up to ₹30,000 Per Illegal Scan
According to investigators, the gang worked through local intermediaries who contacted pregnant women and arranged secret appointments. The accused allegedly charged between ₹20,000 and ₹30,000 per scan to illegally disclose the sex of the foetus, violating the PCPNDT Act, which strictly prohibits prenatal sex determination in India.
Tip-Off Leads to Late-Night Surveillance Operation
Acting on credible information, officials from both districts launched a surveillance operation in the early hours of Tuesday near Belur in Vazhapadi. The team spotted a suspicious vehicle parked behind a hall and traced the operation to a rented house nearby. The house was being used as a temporary setup for the illegal scanning activity.
Accused Caught Red-Handed With Pregnant Women
According to news reports, the accused was caught in the act while performing an illegal scan on three pregnant women who had travelled from different districts. Along with the main operator, the police arrested an intermediary from Vazhapadi and the owner of the rented house used to conduct the scans.
Decoy Mother Helps Crack the Case
Speaking to TNIE, Krishnagiri District Health Officer, Dr. G Ramesh Kumar, detailed the operation. He said, “A five-member team from Krishnagiri district, along with a decoy mother, began travel on Monday. When contacted, the miscreants asked us to reach Salem bus stand in the early hours. Our team reached around 1.45 am and waited for over an hour.”
Pregnant Women Used in the Syndicate’s Operations
A 34-year-old antenatal mother from Dharmapuri—who already has two daughters—and a 25-year-old woman were instructed by the racketeers to wait at the bus stand. They were later asked to board a bus to Vazhapadi, while the surveillance team followed closely. The accused then transported the women to Belur, where officials intercepted the vehicle and made the arrests.
Fourth Pregnant Woman Arrived for Scan
Dr. Ramesh Kumar further revealed that a 27-year-old antenatal mother from Chinnasalem had also arrived at the rented premises for the illegal sex-determination scan. The officials seized the scan machine, mobile phones, and other equipment used in the operation.
