Former IMA President Remanded in Custody Over Sex Determination Racket
Dr. Ravindra Kute, the former president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Maharashtra, has been remanded to judicial custody in connection with a prenatal sex determination racket in Shrirampur, Ahilyanagar district. Arrested alongside eleven others, Dr. Kute is accused of conducting illegal sex determination tests and facilitating subsequent abortions at his hospital. The Maharashtra Medical Council has issued a show-cause notice, while the IMA has suspended his membership privileges pending further investigation. Police revealed that the operation was uncovered through a sting operation where an undercover female constable posed as a client. Authorities found that Dr. Kute’s hospital lacked valid registration for medical termination of pregnancies. The case highlights ongoing efforts by state officials to enforce the Pre-Conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, which aims to curb female foeticide. Despite hundreds of cases filed over two decades, conviction rates remain low, prompting renewed joint workshops between health authorities and medical associations to ensure stricter compliance and implementation of the law.
Wire timeline
Former IMA President Remanded in Custody Over Sex Determination Racket
Dr. Ravindra Kute, the former president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Maharashtra, has been remanded to judicial custody in connection with a prenatal sex determination racket in Shrirampur, Ahilyanagar district. Arrested alongside eleven others, Dr. Kute is accused of conducting illegal sex determination tests and facilitating subsequent abortions at his hospital. The Maharashtra Medical Council has issued a show-cause notice, while the IMA has suspended his membership privileges pending further investigation. Police revealed that the operation was uncovered through a sting operation where an undercover female constable posed as a client. Authorities found that Dr. Kute’s hospital lacked valid registration for medical termination of pregnancies. The case highlights ongoing efforts by state officials to enforce the Pre-Conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, which aims to curb female foeticide. Despite hundreds of cases filed over two decades, conviction rates remain low, prompting renewed joint workshops between health authorities and medical associations to ensure stricter compliance and implementation of the law.
The Indian Express