Illegal abortion racket in Rashidpura: Accused falsely tagged foetuses as female to push clients

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Police personnel investigating the Rashidpura illegal abortion racket have found that the accused systematically misled women by falsely claiming that every foetus was female, a clear violation of the PCPNDT Act, which strictly prohibits sex determination. Investigators said the tactic was used to push women into undergoing illegal abortions for quick financial gain.The city crime branch on Thursday arrested accused Mangesh Thorat (40) from platform 4 of the central bus stand around 8.45am, following a specific tip. He was detained by a team led by assistant inspector Ravikant Gacche and handed over to the City Chowk police for further investigation.With Mangesh Thorat's arrest, all six accused — including Shaheda Parveen Syed Irshad Ahmed (51), Syed Irshad Ahmed Syed Gani (61), Nasrin Nazir Sheikh (47), Minakshi Thorat and Surekha Baban Hirde (40) — are now in police custody. Police commissioner Pravin Pawar said the investigation revealed a consistent pattern of illegal sex determination claims. "The accused would claim the foetus was female irrespective of its actual sex, pushing women towards abortion. This was confirmed after medical examination of a foetus from a woman undergoing treatment at GMCH showed it was male, despite being declared female earlier," Pawar said.The police said the racket involved blatant disregard for the law, with foetuses allegedly being disposed of in a nullah behind the rented bungalow, where they were eaten by stray dogs.The racket was uncovered after a pre-dawn joint raid by the municipal corporation and City Chowk police at a house in Rashidpura earlier this week, where three accused were caught allegedly conducting an abortion without licence. A woman undergoing the procedure was taken to the Government Medical College and Hospital after her condition worsened.City Chowk inspector Nirmala Pardeshi said the case highlights how illegal sex determination was central to the operation. "They exploited women by giving false information about the foetus to carry out abortions and make money," she said.Officials seized abortion drugs, medical instruments and a sonography probe from the premises, pointing to multiple legal violations. Based on a complaint by civic health officer Dr Amarjyoti Shinde, an FIR has been registered under provisions of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, PCPNDT Act, Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.The police said further investigation is underway to identify more victims and expose the full scale of the illegal sex determination and abortion racket.