A woman identified as Kiran Kumari died during a botched abortion procedure in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, after an illegal foetal sex determination test was allegedly conducted at a local diagnostic centre. The incident, which came to light on 29 October 2026, has prompted police arrests and the sealing of the facility, and has reignited scrutiny of clinics that reportedly continue to carry out procedures banned under Indian law.

What Happened

According to family members, Kiran Kumari was three to four months pregnant with the couple's second child. The couple already had a daughter. Her brother, Chandrika Kumar, alleged that her husband arranged for a sex determination test and, upon learning that the foetus was female, pressured her into undergoing an illegal abortion.

During the procedure, Kiran allegedly suffered severe and uncontrolled bleeding, causing her condition to deteriorate rapidly. She was rushed to Sanjeevani Hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival. Family members, enraged by her death, staged a protest at the hospital premises, demanding strict action against those responsible and alleging that doctors and adequate medical assistance were not available in time.

Arrests and Action Taken

Police moved swiftly following the incident. Sonu Kewat, the victim's husband, and Sachin Kewat, the operator of Central Diagnostic Centre located at Shyamdih Chowk, were both arrested. The diagnostic centre has been sealed by authorities.

Katras Sub-Divisional Police Officer Ajit Kumar Vimal confirmed the incident, stating that a police team reached the spot as soon as information was received and began a formal investigation. Preliminary findings, according to the officer, suggest the death resulted from an improperly conducted abortion and severe blood loss.

Forensic Investigation Under Way

A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has been deployed to conduct scientific and technical examinations of all aspects of the case, including the diagnostic centre's equipment and records. The findings are expected to determine the full scope of legal culpability.

The Legal Framework and Wider Context

Prenatal sex determination and gender-selective abortion are strictly prohibited in India under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, 1994. The law was enacted to combat the country's deeply entrenched problem of female foeticide, which has historically skewed sex ratios in several states. Jharkhand's child sex ratio has remained a concern for administrators and health authorities for years.

Notably, this incident underscores a persistent enforcement gap — illegal sex determination services continue to operate despite the legal prohibition, often in smaller urban centres and towns. This is not an isolated case; similar incidents have been reported periodically across states including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, pointing to systemic failures in monitoring diagnostic facilities.

As the FSL completes its examination and police build their case, the question of whether additional medical personnel at Sanjeevani Hospital face liability will likely come under scrutiny as well.