Three held in illegal prenatal sex determination racket

Pioneer News Service
Ranchi

Acting on strict directions of Ranchi Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate Manjunath Bhajantri, a major crackdown was carried out in the Pandra area on June 7, 2026, exposing an illegal prenatal sex determination racket.

During the raid, three individuals were caught red-handed while conducting ultrasound examinations on pregnant women using a portable USG machine (Make: Micromaxx, Serial No. WK1DPQ) at an unauthorized facility located near a lane opposite a liquor shop, about 300 metres from Ravi Steel Chowk, Pandra.

The operation was conducted following a tip-off, under the instructions of the Civil Surgeon-cum-Chief Medical Officer, Ranchi. An executive magistrate, PC & PNDT Act enforcement team, and police personnel from Ratu police station were present during the raid.

Those who are arrested included Suranjan Kumar (son of Yudheshwar Prasad), Akash Kumar (son of Rambhu Sahu), Sheela Kumari (daughter of Mahendra Mahato). Officials confirmed that the accused were operating without proper registration, in clear violation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act. The Act strictly prohibits sex determination before birth.