The home department has handed the crime branch the investigation into the sex determination and abortion case in Beed. The move came after the state took serious note of the abortion of the female foetus, during which the patient died of bleeding.
Vijaymala M. Pattekar (30) died on May 18 due to bleeding during abortion of a female foetus at the hands of Dr Sudam Munde, assisted by his wife Dr Saraswati Munde. The feoticide, along with the previous sex determination, will now be probed by the crime branch. “The Munde couple is influential in the district and can easily hinder the local police’s investigation. So the home department was asked to hand over the investigation to the crime branch,” health minister Suresh Shetty said.
The additional chief secretary (health) had taken up the matter on Monday with additional chief secretary (home).
The Mundes had been arrested earlier as well for violating the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act by carrying out sex determination tests and illegal abortions, especially in case of female foetuses. After their arrest, their nursing home in Parali, Beed and its sonography machines were sealed. However, the Mundes were soon out on bail.
“The sonography machine was sealed when the nursing home was raided. Now, the crime branch will ascertain if the duo used the sealed machine or another one for the sex determination tests,” Mr Shetty said.
The minister added that the health department
will move court for cancelling the licences of the Mundes and their nursing home.