Two Pune doctors in the dock for performing sex determination tests

A sting operation on Tuesday caught two city doctors allegedly performing sex determination tests in violation of the provisions of the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Test (PCPNDT) Act, 1994.

The doctors, Makrand Ranade of Sadashiv Peth and Nina Mathrani of Laxmi Road, are under investigation by the authorities.

The sting operation was conducted by a social organisation, Janwadi Mahila Sanghatan, in association with government authorities.The sonography machine allegedly used for sex determination purposes at Dr Mathrani’s clinic was sealed by the Pune Municipal Corporation.

Ranade is a gynaecologist, while Mathrani is a consultant radiologist and sonologist.
A patient was sent by Janwadi Mahila Sangathan as a decoy for the sex determination test to Ranade on Monday. “We received a tip-off from an alert citizen, who was following the news about female foeticides in the media. She told us that the tests are carried out at Ranade Hospital, so we laid the trap,” said founder of Janwadi Mahila Sangathan, Kiran Moghe.

According to Moghe, Ranade referred the patient to Mathrani. “However, there are no documents of registration of the patient, nor any referral note from Ranade to Mathrani,” she said.
 
Moghe said, “He told the patient that the test would be conducted there on Tuesday and he would get a report on his computer.

Ranade asked for Rs9,000 for the test and demanded an advance of Rs200. The husband had only Rs60, which Ranade kept, and asked him to deposit Rs8,940 on Tuesday,” she alleged.

“This conversation has been recorded. They took the money on Tuesday and handed it over to the doctor. The government authorities reached the hospital and seized the money given by the patient,” she added.
Additional director for family planning (PCPNDT), MK Ahivale, heard the recorded conversation and questioned Ranade for more than two hours. He is the state appropriate authority under the PCPNDT Act.

Ahivale said, “The recording of the conversation hints at Ranade’s involvement in sex determination tests. We are still checking documents and collecting evidence and may file a case against him under the PCPNDT Act.” Civil surgeon, Nitin Bilolikar, was also present.

Additional director for health services, Suresh Gupta, also reached the hospital. While he was questioning Ranade, the doctor’s phone rang. Gupta received the call, posing as Ranade. The call was from a citizen who wished to conduct a sex determination test, the activists claimed.

Simultaneously, assistant medical officer, Vaishali Jadhav raided Mathrani’s clinic and sealed the sonography machine there. “The records are not in order. The patient needs to fill in Form F while conducting sonography, which were not found in the records,” she said.