Health dept raids Cuttack clinic over allegations of illegal sex determination

The health department officials on Wednesday conducted a raid on a clinic in Cuttack over allegations of illegal sex determination of foetus. The sex determination tests are conducted to determine whether the foetuses of pregnant women are male or female.

As per initial reports, the clinic at Friend’s Colony area in the millennium city was run by Dr. Punyashloka Das. Das is currently posted at Sakhigopal government hospital. He has been taken to the CDMO office for further interrogation. Several women patients were present during the raid today.

Manoranjan Pradhan, a health department official said, “We had got allegations since long that illegal sex determination was being done at the clinic. Today, health department team and district administration conducted an inspection. We found some pregnant women at the clinic. Appropriate decision will be taken by CDMO and Collector in this regard.”

According to Pradhan, statements of 10 patients have been recorded and further investigation is on.

Meanwhile, Dr Punyashloka refuted the allegations of sex determination.

“The allegations of sex determination are baseless. We are going to the CDMO office. The allegations have not been proven," he claimed.