Hyderabad: Vanasthalipuram police arrested Dr Ambula Girija Rani, who performed the abortion on engineering student M. Harika, leading to her death, and her boyfriend Sarangi Madhu and another woman, Kamavathi Sirisha who mediated the deal between the couple and the hospital.
Inspector S. Murali Krishna said that Harika and Madhu had decided to abort the pregnancy and started searching for ways of carrying it out.
Madhu told one of his friends, who directed him to another friend whose wife, Sirisha, agreed to help the couple and took them to the Anusha Nursing Home in Kamalanagar, Vanasthalipuram.
They met Dr Girija Rani, and told her that they were not married and so wanted to get an abortion. She agreed to perform the abortion for a sum of Rs 20,000.
“Madhu paid Rs 10,000 as advance and agreed to pay the balance after the process. After the abortion, Harika’s blood pressure became abnormally low and she became unconscious. The doctor advised she be shifted to Osmania Hospital, but midway, when she became more serious, she was taken to Kamala Hospital in Dilsukhnagar, where doctors declared her dead,” the Inspector said.
The police say that Dr Rani has been performing abortions on unmarried girls and women who have conceived through an illicit relationship and charging them large sums, but police have found no concrete evidence of this. Based on a complaint from Harika’s father, a case was registered against Madhu and Dr Rani under Section 312 (causing miscarriage), Section 314, (death caused by act done with intent to cause miscarriage) and Section 417 (cheating) of the IPC.
Clinic sealed, doctor arrested
Anusha Clinic, where abortion on 19-year-old Malluri Harika was conducted by gynecologist Dr Girija Rani, has been shut down by district medical and health officials on Tuesday morning. Dr Rani (45) has been arrested by the police.
Dr Balaji Pawar, district medical and health officer, said, “The hospital has been sealed. We have to wait for the police to complete the investigation.” The health department has sent alert notices to all the maternity homes in Ranga Reddy district, warning them against conducting the illegal activity of abortion.
A senior health department official said, “All medical students learn about the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act as part of their curriculum. They are aware of the law. However, a few doctors practise it for quick money.”
A senior gynaecologist, on condition of anonymity, said, “With information about abortion pills available on the Internet, most teenagers consume the pills at home. When the bleeding does not stop they approach the hospital.”
Doctors noted that before conducting abortions, a consent form is filled. However, when things go wrong, the gynaecologist is at the receiving end. Abortion requires consent from two other gynaecologists in the case of a 20-week pregnancy. However, a few reputed hospitals are following this protocol,” said sources in the health department.
