Doctor Held for 300 Illegal Abortions in Kolhapur

In Kolhapur, a 70-year-old retired civil surgeon and senior health official has been booked by police for allegedly conducting illegal abortions. Authorities suspect his clinic might be linked to as many as 300 terminations, encompassing both surgical and medication-induced procedures, over an unspecified period.

The investigation was prompted by the recent dismantling of an illegal sex determination racket operating from a local lodge. During their inquiries into this racket, agents revealed that pregnant women carrying female fetuses were referred to the doctor for abortions.

Police conducted a decoy operation, sending in an undercover officer, which led to the discovery of abortion pills, machinery, and a portable sonography machine. The doctor, who reportedly charged around Rs 20,000 per termination, was detained but later hospitalized due to chest pain. He will be formally arrested once medically cleared.

Investigators are meticulously examining seized records and financial transactions to determine the full scope of the alleged operation. The doctor is among seven individuals named in an FIR filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and relevant medical acts.