Violation of MTP act: Gynaecologist, peon booked

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, February 26

A gynaecologist of the local Civil Hospital, along with her peon, has been booked under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act. An inquiry was conducted after a video of the doctor showed her seeking Rs 20,000 for aborting a female foetus.

A case under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the MTP Act, Section 27(b)(ii) and 28 of the Drug and Cosmetics Act and Sections 120-B, 166, 168, 315, 409 and 511 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against Poonam Bhargava and her peon Baljinder.

Sub-Inspector Brij Pal, the investigation officer, said, “A team of police officials raided Bhargava’s house this morning to arrest her, but she wasn’t present there. We will record statements of all members of the inquiry committee tomorrow. Even the statement of complainants will be recorded.”

On February 20, Civil Surgeon Jasjeet Kaur had received a video on WhatsApp, in which Bhargava allegedly seeks Rs 20,000 from Patiala residents Amandeep Singh and Vinay Arora for aborting a female foetus. Subsequently, the Civil Surgeon constituted a seven-member committee to inquire into the alleged incident.

According to the inquiry committee, it is clear that Bhargava was indulging in performing illegal MTPs in connivance with her peon for monetary gains. She had been performing illegal MTPs at her house too.

Earlier, a team from the Civil Hospital had conducted a raid at the gynaecologist’s residence in Sector 16 here. “The team had sealed various kinds of allopathic medicine, mostly used for MTP cases,” according to the FIR.

During the inquiry, Bhargava admitted that she took Rs 8,000 in advance from the complainant for conducting MTP. She also handed over the currency notes to the committee.

The copy of preliminary inquiry report, a sealed box containing the medicines recovered from the house, list of recovered currency notes, the inquire committee’s report and a DVD containing videos and CCTV footage have been enclosed with the FIR.

Bhargava had already been suspended by Haryana Health Minister Anij Vij.

Meanwhile, Civil Surgeon Jasjeet Kaur, along with the Civil Hospital staff concerned, presented the inquiry committee report to the Haryana State Commission for Women today.

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