Pune: The Pune Rural police on Wednesday arrested a medical practitioner in connection with an illegal sex determination racket. The accused, identified as Dr. Sangeeta Gaikwad, operates a hospital located on the Pune-Solapur highway in Kedgaon Chouphula.
Police Custody and Investigation
Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill confirmed that Gaikwad has been taken into police custody until Friday. This marks the fourth arrest in the case registered at the Yavat police station.
According to Gill, Gaikwad collaborated with the prime suspect, Annasaheb Giri, who owned a portable sonography machine. Giri referred pregnant women to Gaikwad after determining the sex of the fetus. Gaikwad then performed illegal abortions. Authorities suspect she conducted a significant number of abortions and are working to determine the exact figures, particularly cases of female foeticide. The fees charged for these unauthorized activities remain unknown.
Previous Arrests and Machine Supplier
Last week, the Rural police took custody of Narendra Raosaheb Thakare from Wagholi, who supplied the sonography machine. Thakare had previously been arrested by the Wagholi police in a similar case. He supplied a portable sonography machine to Giri, who was arrested in May. Police also arrested medical practitioner Atul Ankush Jadhav of Lohegaon-Wagholi Road earlier.
Authorities suspect that Thakare supplied sonography machines to buyers across Pune and neighboring districts. Such machines are commonly used by veterinarians for animal examinations and treatments.
Ongoing Investigations
Since 2024, the suspects allegedly carried out numerous abortions at hospitals in Pune rural, Satara, and Ahilyanagar districts. Police are searching for two medical practitioners from Bhor. Additionally, they have identified 13 other medical practitioners who were in contact with Giri and the other accused. These individuals will be questioned soon, Gill added.
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