Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Rahul Zond (26, Mayur Park), a driver for Dr Satish Sonwane allegedly linked to a foeticide network worked as an OT assistant in a private hospital after passing Class 12 and claiming a diploma. Following Sonwane’s arrest, he reportedly procured a probe and tablet used for sex determination online for about Rs 1 lakh and, with an associate, began an illegal sex determination and abortion racket.
In 2023, Pundliknagar police had exposed Sonwane’s major abortion racket. After his release, he allegedly revived the network and resumed illegal activities. On March 14, an abortion case in Naregaon surfaced, again linking Sonwane. Senior inspector Somnath Jadhav and assistant inspector Kailas Lahane gathered evidence confirming his involvement.
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How the racket started:
• Rahul, earlier Sonwane’s driver, continued working for his family after 2023 arrest. Driven by financial greed, he allegedly initiated his own racket with an associate from the same network.
• He purchased a portable X-ray machine and tablet for Rs 1 lakh online, and used old contacts along with YouTube videos to learn the illegal procedures.
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Action taken:
Police set a trap using a decoy husband-wife duo. Rahul demanded Rs 25,000 and called them to Pisadevi. He was caught during the meeting by a team led by inspector Somnath Jadhav and assistant inspector Kailas Lahane, with support from staff. The police seized the machine and tablet and arrested him.