In Hyderabad, authorities are investigating four individuals, including two doctors, along with two hospitals in Kamareddy district, for allegedly participating in a racket that performed illegal sex determination tests using ultrasound sonography (USG) machines. The probe involves Rajampet Hospital, Kousalya Hospital, Dr. Praveen Kumar, Dr. Harika, V. Nandipi Siddiramulu, and Devuni Prudvi, with district officials and police from the DM&HO leading the investigation.
The investigation was initiated when police intercepted a vehicle on Friday that was transporting a USG machine. Upon questioning the driver, Siddiramulu, officials uncovered that he was allegedly conducting sex determination tests for payment at unlicensed locations.
Deviation from the act was evident in this instance
Kamareddy Superintendent of Police Sindhu Sharma
Under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, providers applying for a USG machine license must specify both the doctor and hospital under which the machine will be registered, along with the exact location where it will be used. However, in this case, the suspects reportedly disregarded these legal requirements. Kamareddy Superintendent of Police, Sindhu Sharma, explained that “deviation from the act was evident” in this instance.
Initially, investigators suspected that only Rajampet Hospital’s equipment was misused, but they later discovered that Siddiramulu was also using a machine from Kousalya Hospital. These USG machines were allegedly utilized by Siddiramulu for illegal sex determination testing at unauthorized sites, extending the scale of the operation.
These illegal activities attracted women from as far as Maharashtra seeking unauthorized centers.
Kamareddy Superintendent of Police Sindhu Sharma
The probe revealed that the equipment registered to Rajampet Hospital had originally been licensed in 2011, but its registration expired in 2016 and was never renewed. Similarly, Kousalya Hospital’s permission was revoked in 2021, after which its USG machine was reportedly acquired by Siddiramulu, who is not a licensed doctor.
The investigation has uncovered that the illegal practice attracted women not only from Kamareddy and neighboring districts but also from farther locations in Maharashtra, such as Nanded and Latur, who sought unauthorized centers to determine the sex of their fetus, according to Superintendent Sharma.
As per the PCPNDT Act, in every instance of violation, the district’s appropriate authority (DAA)—comprising members from the DM&HO, district police, NGOs, and officers from the district collectorate—should file complaints directly with the junior first-class magistrate court, bypassing regular police channels. The DAA has since issued notices to all suspects involved.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)
