Nagpur Authorities Shut Down Sonography Centre in Sex-Determination Sting

In a significant crackdown on illegal prenatal sex determination, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) health department has sealed a sonography centre in Sadar. This operation, conducted under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, targeted a racket allegedly involving two doctors. Following the raid, the NMC lodged a complaint with the Sadar police station against one of the doctors, while a complaint against the second doctor is being processed with the Nandanvan police.

Acting on a tip-off, NMC health officials deployed a decoy—a pregnant woman—who visited a hospital in Wardhaman Nagar managed by a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) doctor, seeking a prenatal sex determination test. Initially, the doctor refused the request; however, he later allegedly demanded a fee of ₹60,000 for the procedure. According to NMC representatives, the doctor stated, “Give the money, we will tell you whether it’s a boy or girl.”

The following day, the decoy returned and expressed her willingness to proceed with the test. At that point, the doctor informed her that she would need to be referred to another location for the sonography. On October 6, 2023, the decoy paid ₹50,000 to the hospital. An agent then transported her on a motorcycle approximately 8-10 km to Sadar. Due to delays, the procedure was not conducted that day, and the fee was returned.

On October 7, 2023, the same agent escorted the decoy to a clinic located on the third floor of Sarafa Chambers in Sadar. There, a sonologist conducted the illegal sex-determination scan. After the test, the decoy was returned to the hospital in Wardhaman Nagar. Following confirmation of the operation, NMC officials, accompanied by police, quickly moved to the clinic in Sadar.

Upon arrival, the NMC team found the centre closed, and the sonologist claimed to be out of town when contacted by phone. As a result, the civic squad sealed the sonography centre on-site. NMC officials secured all evidence from the sting operation, including recordings, for further investigation.

This operation was coordinated under the leadership of NMC’s medical health officer, Dr. Deepak Selokar, with collaboration from additional medical health officers, Dr. Narendra Bahirwar and Dr. Sarla Lad. This marks a notable action by the NMC against prenatal sex-determination rackets in Nagpur, reflecting increasing efforts to enforce laws aimed at curbing gender-based discrimination.