In the ongoing investigation of a female foeticide case, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has apprehended Laxman Gowda, the owner of Avishkara Bros Biomedical Private Limited, for allegedly supplying illegal scanning machines.
These machines were utilized by doctors to determine the sex of fetuses, contributing to a nefarious racket that operated without detection for three years.
CID officials revealed that Gowda had unlawfully provided three scanning machines to an ayurvedic doctor named Mallikarjun. Mallikarjun, in turn, distributed these machines to other medical practitioners involved in the illicit trade of sex determination.
The investigative team, led by the CID, also arrested another suspect, Siddesh, in connection with a case registered in Hassan. During the arrest, a scanning machine was seized from Siddesh.
The CID probe, initiated after the Baiyappanahalli Police exposed the sex determination racket in October 2023, has resulted in the arrest of more than 12 individuals. All three scanning machines used in the illegal activities have been confiscated by the authorities.
According to police reports, the accused orchestrated the racket for the past three years, successfully avoiding suspicion. Shockingly, it is estimated that over 900 fetuses were aborted as a result of their activities. The severity of the situation prompted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to order a CID investigation in December, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the issue.