Babus, netas likely used Solapur clinic to abort

Investigations in the Solapur female foeticide case have now revealed that government servants and candidates wanting to contest the local body elections may have used the services of the arrested doctor couple at Akluj to abort their unborn children. Government servants can avail of dependent benefits for only up to two children. For those who want to contest polls or have been elected to institutions like gram panchayats, panchayat samitis, zilla parishads and municipal bodies, the nominations and elections of those with over two children are liable to be set aside.

Last week, the Solapur police had arrested Tejas Gandhi, 43, and his wife Priti, 41, who ran the Siya Maternity and Surgical Home in Akluj for allegedly conducting sex determination and gender-selective abortions. The Gandhis are suspected to have conducted at least 36 abortions since May 2016. The facility did not have valid registrations to conduct medical termination of pregnancies (MTP).

“It has been established that female foeticides were happening… But all cases are not those of female foeticide,” Mangesh Chavan, deputy superintendent of police (Akluj), told DNA. He added that those who wanted to contest the local body polls and government servants had also come to the couple to abort …read more