Fetal gender detection scam: 12 arrested, doctor commits suicide amid probe

In a stunning turn of events, Bangalore is grappling with the fallout from a massive fetal gender detection and feticide scandal that has led to the arrest of 12 individuals, including three doctors. The case, initially brought to light by the Baiyappanahalli Police, has sent shockwaves through the state, prompting the government to hand over the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The arrests began on November 25, with the arrest of Shivananje Gowda, Viresh, Naveen and Nayan. Subsequent interrogations revealed a widespread racket involving illegal fetal sex tests and abortions, implicating Dr. Tulsi Ram, Dr. Chandan Ballal, Meena, and others. The accused were arrested based on information provided by the initial detainees.

The Mata Hospital in Udayagiri, Mysore, emerged as a central hub for these illicit activities. Nurse Manjula, who had been actively involved in the female feticide network for three years, disclosed shocking details during her arrest. She claimed to have performed over 70 abortions per month, totalling 900 over the past two years. Manjula, along with Dr. Chandan Ballal’s team, conducted abortions for those who sought to terminate pregnancies based on gender preferences.

The procedures at Mata Hospital included performing natural deliveries on six-month pregnant women and administering pills for those at five months. In some instances, babies were alive at the time of miscarriage. Manjula, allegedly responsible for disposing of the fetuses, would hand them over to lab technician Nissar, who would discard them in the Cauvery River.

What is more shocking and intriguing is that a jaggery factory in Mandya Taluk was revealed to be another site of these heinous activities. Accused Naveen was linked to this location, where a scanning machine was used for both fetal gender detection and embryo disposal.

As the investigation unfolded, the missing doctor, Dr. Satish, was discovered dead in his car parked on the side of Anekadu National Highway in Kushalanagar taluk of Kodagu. Dr. Satish, who was working on a contract basis in Mysore District Konsur Government Hospital, allegedly injected himself with poison in an apparent suicide. Satish’s name had surfaced during the investigation, and it is suspected that he went into hiding due to fears of being implicated in the feticide case.

The state government has handed over the case to CID, signalling a deeper probe into the extent of this shocking scandal. The revelations have ignited public outrage, calling for stringent action against those involved in the reprehensible practices that have undermined the sanctity of life and violated ethical medical standards.