JJP Leader and Three Others Arrested in Hisar for Illegal Ultrasound and Sex Determination Racket
In a significant crackdown on illegal medical practices, Dr Anant Ram Barwala, a prominent leader of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), along with three other individuals, has been arrested in Hisar. The arrests were made following a meticulously planned health department raid on Shri Balaji Clinic located in Azad Nagar. The operation uncovered a clandestine fetal sex determination racket, highlighting serious violations of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act.
Decoy Operation Leads to Raid and Arrests
The health department initiated the raid on Thursday after deploying a decoy pregnant woman to confirm illegal activities at the clinic. According to officials, the department had received credible information on Wednesday about an active sex determination racket operating from the premises. Dr Anamika Bishnoi, the PNDT nodal officer who spearheaded the operation, stated that a special team was constituted for this purpose, including Dr Promil Garg and drug inspector Ajay Kumar.
The decoy woman, accompanied by an informer, was sent to the clinic while the health department team discreetly monitored the situation. At Shri Balaji Clinic, Dr Surajmal allegedly collected Rs 35,000 from the decoy for the illegal ultrasound examination. However, as the team approached, Dr Surajmal reportedly alerted others to shut down operations, but the authorities managed to enter and apprehend the suspects.
Seizures and Evidence of Violations
During the raid, the health department team made several critical seizures that underscore the extent of the illegal activities. They confiscated a laptop-sized portable ultrasound machine, along with a jelly-coated probe and its charger. Notably, officials found no mandatory forms that should have been filled by pregnant women, indicating a blatant disregard for PNDT norms.
Further search of the clinic revealed additional incriminating evidence, including six Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) kits and approximately 20 types of allopathic medicines. Among these were narcotic drugs that are prohibited for sale without a prescription under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The team also recovered Rs 10,000, which was collected from another pregnant woman who was undergoing an ultrasound at the time of the raid.
Background and Legal Proceedings
Dr Anant Ram Barwala's involvement in this case is particularly noteworthy as his medical licence had already been suspended by the Haryana Medical Council on November 6, 2023. This suspension barred him from examining patients or conducting ultrasounds, making his actions at the clinic even more egregious. Dr Bishnoi mentioned that details regarding the name and model of the ultrasound machine are missing and are currently under investigation. An unidentified person who supplied the machine has also been named as an accused in the First Information Report (FIR).
Following the arrests, all four accused were produced before a court on Friday. Dr Anant Ram Barwala was sent to judicial custody due to his deteriorating health, while Dr Surajmal was remanded to two-day police custody. The other accused, Prem and Priyanka (the pregnant woman other than the decoy), were also sent to judicial custody. The health department has suspended the clinic's licence, and a thorough probe is ongoing to uncover further details of this illegal racket.
This incident sheds light on the persistent issue of illegal sex determination and ultrasound practices in Haryana, despite stringent laws. The health department's proactive measures, including the use of decoys and coordinated raids, demonstrate a commitment to enforcing PNDT regulations and protecting vulnerable populations from such exploitative activities.
