Nagpur: A covert sting operation by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s health department has blown the lid off an illegal fetal sex-determination racket operating in the city. The investigation has revealed the involvement of two doctors—Dr. Rekha Shirsat of Shivam Hospital in Vardhman Nagar and radiologist Dr. Rajeev Nagi, who runs a sonography centre in the Sarafa Chamber area of Sadar. Police, accompanied by civic officials, have sealed the sonography centre. Cases have been registered by Sadar and Nandanvan police, and further inquiry is underway.
Authorities received confidential intelligence about clandestine sex-determination tests being carried out in the city. Acting on the tip-off, the health department planned a sting and sent a “dummy patient” to Shivam Hospital, run by Dr. Shirsat (BAMS).
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14 Oct 2025
The undercover patient asked Dr. Shirsat if she could disclose the gender of the fetus. The doctor initially refused, but later allegedly demanded ₹60,000, stating she would reveal whether it was a boy or a girl once the payment was made.
The patient contacted her again and agreed to pay. Dr. Shirsat then directed her to undergo sonography at another location.
On the first attempt, the woman deposited ₹50,000 and was taken 8–10 km away to the Sadar area by an agent. Since the test could not be conducted that day, the amount was returned.
The second day brought the real breakthrough.
The agent escorted her to Dr. Rajeev Nagi’s sonography centre in the Sarafa Chamber. Due to the lift being out of order, she had to climb three floors on foot to reach the clinic. Inside, Dr. Nagi allegedly confirmed he would disclose the fetus’s gender. The entire sequence was captured on hidden cameras. After the consultation, the agent brought the woman back to Shivam Hospital.
Once the racket was confirmed, the civic team and police approached Dr. Nagi’s clinic. The clinic was found locked, and the doctor claimed over the phone that he was “out of station.” The sonography centre was sealed on the spot.
The operation was executed under the guidance of Municipal Medical Officer Dr. Deepak Selokar, with Additional Health Officers Dr. Narendra Bahirwar and Dr. Sarla Lad leading the field team. Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Dr. Abhijit Chaudhary, along with Additional Commissioner Vasumana Pant, praised the team’s execution of the high-risk operation.
The revelation has sparked outrage and renewed concerns over illegal sex-selection practices, a crime strictly prohibited under the PCPNDT Act. The police investigation is expected to widen as more links surface.
