Sex determination racket busted in Morena, repeat offender on the run

Bhopal: An illegal fetal sex determination racket has been exposed in Morena dist, once again drawing attention to the region's deeply skewed sex ratio and the persistence of gender-based discrimination. The operation came to light after a villager intervened, uncovering a makeshift clinic.The incident occurred in Harwasi village under Bagchini police station limits, where Sanjay Pachauri, a suspended school peon with a history of similar offences, had allegedly set up a temporary facility inside a hut along a canal. Disguising himself as a medical practitioner, he was reportedly carrying out fetal sex determination tests—an act banned under Indian law due to its link to female foeticide.Racket was exposed by Vikas Sharma, a local who grew suspicious after noticing repeated trips by a van transporting women to the isolated location. Sharma recorded a video and entered the hut, where he found several women waiting while tests were allegedly being conducted. He then locked the hut from the outside, and alerted other villagers.At the time, around six to ten women were present, either waiting for or undergoing the procedure. However, despite being temporarily confined, Pachauri managed to escape by dismantling part of the thatched roof with the help of accomplices. He fled the scene in a van.Women were later dropped near Mungawali village on NH-552 and dispersed using different modes of transport, likely in an attempt to avoid identification. Meanwhile, villagers pursued the fleeing vehicle, intercepting the driver, identified as Rakesh Prajapati, and handing him over to the police.Cases have been filed against Pachauri, the driver, and another accomplice, Vikram. Preliminary investigations reveal that Pachauri had previously worked as a peon at a CM Rise School in Jaura and was suspended in 2024 due to similar illegal activities. He has been arrested multiple times in connection with sex determination rackets and had recently been released on bail after serving a six-month prison sentence. The driver reportedly disclosed that he was hired for Rs 800 per day to transport women, indicating that the racket functioned in an organized manner with clearly defined roles. Morena district collector Lokesh Jangid said strict action is being taken against the accused and that the women found at the spot would be counselled. "Even as an administrator, I strongly believe this is a societal problem and requires greater social awareness and a change in values. The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act will be enforced strictly," he said.Women's rights activist Meena Sharma criticised systemic failures, calling the case an example of institutional apathy and poor coordination. She questioned how repeat offenders like Pachauri continue to secure bail and called for stricter legal provisions.