Radiologist back in illegal abortion racket; three arrested

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

MIDC Cidco police have arrested three members of a family from Naregaon for allegedly conducting an illegal abortion after determining the fetus’s sex using a portable sonography machine.

The arrested accused are Arbaz Sayed, his mother Aasiya Sayed, and father Feroz Sayed (Baluch Galli, Naregaon). Police said the 26-year-old woman was pregnant for the third time, and the family allegedly wanted a male child. On February 27, when she was five months pregnant, a portable sonography test was conducted at their home, allegedly arranged by radiologist Dr Santosh Sonawane, who has been linked to an abortion racket operating across Marathwada. After the test indicated a female fetus, the family allegedly decided to terminate the pregnancy. On March 6, Kamal Tingote, a nurse from a private hospital in Jalna, and other women allegedly gave abortion pills and applied pressure on the woman’s abdomen to induce abortion. During the procedure, the woman’s father arrived at the house, prompting those involved to flee. The woman was later taken to a hospital, but the abortion had already occurred.

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Three arrested, others named

Following the complaint, police launched a search operation under police inspector Somnath Jadhav and assistant police inspector Kailas Lahane. The husband and in-laws were arrested on Friday and remanded to police custody till March 17. During interrogation, police found that Tingote had connected the family to Dr Sonawane, while Anil Jadhav (Sapkal), operator of Mahalab in Mayur Park, conducted blood tests. Their names have now been added to the case.

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Accused radiologist absconding

Police said Dr Sonawane, previously linked to several abortion rackets in Beed and Sambhajinagar, allegedly uses a portable sonography device to conduct fetal sex determination tests and trains others in the network. Four abortion-related cases are already registered against him, and he is currently absconding. Investigators believe the network operates across Jalna, Sillod and Beed, charging Rs 3–5 lakh for sex determination and illegal abortions, and resumes operations after securing bail.