in an undercover operation, the Mahabubabad police on Tuesday caught a doctor red-handed while he was conducting sex-determination tests at Kuravi.
The police raided a private hospital, Swetha Nursing Home, and have identified the doctor as Raparthi Srinivas. They also seized all relevant equipment that was being used to conduct the tests.
According to a report in Telangana Today, the doctor was also allegedly conducting illegal abortions and was also involved in female foeticide, due to which the police also registered cases under the IPC, Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971, Indian Medical Council Act and the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT) 1994.
The report adds that he used to charge around Rs 3,000 for a sex determination test, while an abortion would cost between Rs 7,500 and Rs 12,000.
Police also reportedly said that the accused had been conducting these tests from 2013, and may have performed roughly 300 illegal abortions.
The Times of India reported that a woman constable went undercover, and visited the hospital seeking an abortion, along with a local couple, and Srinivas eventually spilled the beans.
Police later sealed the hospital.
Meanwhile, in a major move by the state government to promote institutional deliveries at government hospitals, ‘KCR Kits’ were officially launched last week, at the Government Maternity Hospital located in Hyderabad.
The kit, worth Rs. 2000, consists of soaps, baby oil, a cradle, a mosquito net, dresses, sarees, handbag, towels, napkins, powder, diapers, shampoo and toys for the child.
According to reports, the state government plans to provide Rs. 15,000 to the mother if she gives birth to a girl and Rs. 14,000 in the case of a baby boy.
This step has been taken to reduce infant mortality rate and encourage institutional deliveries in government hospitals, and will be applicable for two deliveries.