Pune: Illegal Sex Determination Racket Using Mobile App Busted; Doctor Booked Under PCPNDT Act
Pune: Illegal Sex Determination Racket Using Mobile App Busted; Doctor Booked Under PCPNDT Act
Pune | March 4, 2026
In a major crackdown under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, a joint team of the Health Department and Crime Branch conducted a raid at Life Care Hospital in Pachange Vasti, Dhok Sangvi, in Shirur taluka of Pune district, following allegations of illegal fetal sex determination.
Preliminary investigations revealed violations of the PCPNDT Act at the hospital run by Dr. Akash Malgunde, who holds a BAMS degree. Acting on specific inputs, Police Constable Pratiksha Pansare from Wagholi Police Station posed as a patient and laid a trap to verify the allegations.
During the joint probe, it was found that a middleman identified as Narendra Thakare, a resident of Kesnand in Haveli taluka, allegedly facilitated sex determination tests for multiple patients using a mobile application.
Officials also discovered a stock of abortion pills at the hospital premises, which were seized during the raid. The process of registering an offence under the PCPNDT Act is currently underway, and further legal action will be initiated against those involved.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Bhagwan Pawar, Deputy Director of Health Services, Pune Circle. The raid was led by Assistant Police Commissioner Rajendra Mulik and Senior Police Inspector Santosh Sonawane of Crime Branch Unit 7. District Civil Surgeon Dr. Nagnath Yampalle and Shirur Rural Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Sachin Dhas were also present during the inspection.
Authorities reiterated that conducting or undergoing fetal sex determination is a punishable offence under the law and urged citizens to immediately report such activities to the Health Department or the police.
