Raid exposes racket, foetus found in Mukundwadi
Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
A second abortion racket exposed within a month has shocked the city. Two sisters, along with a nurse, had been illegally conducting abortions at home. The racket, active for nearly one-and-a-half years, is suspected to be linked to known doctors involved in illegal abortions. Families were reportedly charged Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 for the procedure.
On Sunday evening, Satara police, with the help of municipal health officials, busted the racket in the Satara area. Varsha Jadhav and Ujjwala Gaikwad were caught red-handed. Dr Vikas Mitharam Aher (resident of Nillod, Sillod), who allegedly referred patients to them, was arrested from his hospital. Another key accused, Jyoti Pawar, is absconding. All three arrested were produced in court and remanded to police custody till April 13.
Illegal operations inside mother’s house
Varsha Jadhav, a nurse, and her sister Ujjwala Gaikwad allegedly conducted abortions at their mother’s house in Satara village to avoid suspicion. The network is believed to be part of a larger mobile abortion racket operating in the city for nearly a decade.
Medicines and equipment seized
Police recovered abortion pills, painkiller injections, surgical tools, gloves and other medical supplies from the accused. Additional equipment was seized from the absconding accused’s residence.
‘Killer diary’ recovered
A diary found at Varsha’s house contained detailed instructions on conducting abortions, medicines to be used and risk management, along with contact numbers of doctors and ambulance services.
Abortion for not wanting a second girl child
The woman trapped in the operation was from Sillod tehsil and was allegedly referred through Dr Aher before being taken to the accused’s house for the procedure.
Rs 70,000 deal breakdown
Sex determination test – Rs 20,000
Abortion – Rs 30,000
Disposal – Rs 20,000
Total – Rs 70,000 (varied based on financial condition)
Sillod link under scanner
Dr Aher, a BAMS practitioner, runs a multi-storey hospital. Previous abortion cases have also traced links to Sillod and Bhokardan, raising suspicion of a wider network.
Foetus found dumped in Mukundwadi
In a separate incident, a foetus of around four to five months was found dumped on a road in Rajnagar on April 6. A case has been registered at Mukundwadi police station.