In a significant enforcement action against unlawful sex determination and abortion practices, officials from the State Appropriate Authority executed a decoy operation in Hunuganahalli Hundi, located in Bannur taluk of Mysuru district, on October 22, 2025. The operation revealed a covert operation allegedly involved in sex determination and gender-selective abortions.
A collaborative team from the State and District Appropriate Authorities, under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, alongside the State and District Inspection and Monitoring Committees, initiated the operation around 3 PM upon receiving credible intelligence concerning illicit sex determination activities in the region.
According to Vivek Dorai, the State PCPNDT Nodal Officer who led the operation, the event commenced earlier in the day at Mellahalli Circle. During this phase, a woman named Puttasiddamma handed over ₹30,000 in cash to an individual identified as Swamy. Shortly thereafter, Govindaraju, another suspect, picked up a pregnant woman in a vehicle. Subsequently, two more pregnant women—Roopa, 34, from K.R. Nagar, and Uma, 23, from Keragalli—were collected from different locations by the same driver. All three women, along with an undercover pregnant woman sent by the authorities, were transported to a newly constructed house in Hunuganahalli.
The authorities acted promptly, arriving at the scene within 15 minutes. Upon entering the premises, officials discovered the three pregnant women in a bedroom on the first floor, reportedly awaiting a doctor for sex determination and potential abortion procedures. Several other women and children were also present in the room.
A preliminary investigation indicated that the women had been instructed by the agents to present themselves as relatives of a woman named Shyamali if questioned. They were also advised to turn off their mobile phones and hide them, according to Dr. Dorai.
During the inspection, officials seized medical equipment and supplies related to pregnancy procedures, including IV fluids, progesterone injections, syringes, diclofenac, enoxaparin sodium injections, and both used and unused pregnancy test kits. Additional evidence included medical records, diaries, hospital receipts from a private facility, and a computer system. Documents recovered suggested a broader network, as they contained the names of multiple pregnant women.
Dr. Dorai pointed out that these activities represent violations of Section 3A of the PCPNDT Act, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, and the Biomedical Waste Management Act. He stated, “The District Appropriate Authority in Mysuru has filed a police complaint, initiating legal proceedings against all involved parties. An FIR has been lodged at the local police station, and a detailed compliance report will be submitted to the State authority.”
Dr. Dorai emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “This operation has uncovered significant violations of the PCPNDT and MTP Acts. A comprehensive investigation will follow, and appropriate legal action will be taken.”
