The Karnataka Police on Sunday arrested the owner of the hospital where an illegally aborted female foetus was wrapped in a cover and thrown in a dustbin on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
The arrested man has been identified as Dr D Srinivasa, owner of the SPG Hospital and Diagnostic Centre located in Thirumalashettyhalli in Hoskote near Bengaluru.
On December 13, health department officials had conducted a surprise visit and found the female foetus dumped in a dustbin. Their probe revealed the foetus was 22 weeks old and illegally aborted.
A police officer said Dr Srinivasa, who holds an MBBS degree, had been conducting sex determination tests and illegal abortions at the hospital, which has been sealed, for the past two years. The officer added Srinivasa used to conduct abortions at Rs 50,000 and the majority of the patients were teenagers and college students who got pregnant due to pre-marital affairs.
“According to evidence, we have found that at least eight abortions have been carried out since 2022. However, the numbers may be higher…” said the police officer.
The police have taken Dr Srinivasa to 12 days’ custody and seized records from the hospital. They also found that an unauthorised ultrasound machine was discovered at the SPG Hospital and Diagnostic Centre on December 5.
The police have also detained seven employees of SPG Hospital and Diagnostic Centre.
This is the second such case that the Karnataka Police and health officials have cracked in recent days.
The Bengaluru city police recently busted a female feticide racket and arrested more than 13 people, including doctors, lab technicians, nurses and agents. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is probing the case.
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