Mandya sex determination racket: 3 doctors arrested, gynaecologist Dr Priyanka absconding
Synopsis
A sex determination racket in Karnataka's Mandya district allegedly involved minor pregnant girls, two diagnostic centres, and a network of 17 accused — including a government doctor and an ASHA worker. Three doctors are in custody, but the key gynaecologist remains absconding as the Lokayukta steps in with suo motu action.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka Police are hunting absconding gynaecologist Dr.
Priyanka in connection with an alleged illegal sex determination racket in Mandya district .
Illegal scans were allegedly conducted at Naavi Diagnostics Centre ( 24 scans ) and Kushal Diagnostics Centre ( 7 scans ) in K.R.
Harish — have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
12 FIRs have been filed against 17 accused , including a government doctor, a junior health assistant, and an ASHA worker.
The Karnataka Lokayukta has taken suo motu cognisance; Upa Lokayukta Justice B.
Veerappa registered the case citing POCSO Act violations.
Multiple female foeticide rackets have been busted across Karnataka between late 2023 and October 2025 , mainly in the Mysuru-Mandya belt.
Karnataka Police on Wednesday, 29 April intensified their manhunt for absconding gynaecologist Dr Priyanka in Mandya district, as investigators unravelled an alleged illegal sex determination racket that reportedly involved minor pregnant girls. Three doctors have already been arrested and remanded to judicial custody in connection with the case.
What the Investigation Has Uncovered
According to police sources, illegal sex determination tests were allegedly conducted at two diagnostic centres in K.R. Pet town of Mandya district — Naavi Diagnostics Centre and Kushal Diagnostics Centre. Investigations have revealed that a total of 24 scans were conducted at Naavi Diagnostics Centre, including 19 cases in 2024 and five cases in 2025. At Kushal Diagnostics Centre, seven scans were reportedly carried out.
In total, 12 separate FIRs have been registered at K.R. Pet and K.R. Pet Rural police stations against 17 accused individuals. The accused reportedly include a government doctor, a junior health assistant, an ASHA worker, and several private individuals — pointing to what investigators describe as an organised network with institutional links.
Who Has Been Arrested
Three persons have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. The arrested individuals are:
Dr. Divya Chetana of Divya Maternity Centre, K.R. Pet; Dr. Harshit of Naavi Diagnostic Centre; and Dr. Harish of Kushal Diagnostic Centre. Gynaecologist Dr. Priyanka remains at large, and a search operation has been launched to trace her.
Lokayukta Steps In
The Karnataka Lokayukta has taken suo motu cognisance of the case. Upa Lokayukta Justice B. Veerappa registered the case based on complaints regarding illegal scanning of minor pregnant girls. Lokayukta officials reportedly identified the diagnostic centres during preliminary investigations, which indicated violations including failure to report minors under 18 years of age to local police and relevant authorities — a mandatory obligation under the POCSO Act.
A Disturbing Pattern Across Karnataka
This comes amid a broader crackdown on female foeticide networks across the state. Multiple rackets have been busted in Karnataka between late 2023 and October 2025, primarily in the Mysuru and Mandya regions. In October 2025, Karnataka health authorities and police raided a farmhouse in Hanuganahalli, Mysuru district, busting a racket that charged ₹25,000–₹35,000 for sex determination and abortion. Five people were arrested, including a nurse, and ultrasound equipment, medicine, and ₹3 lakh in cash were seized. Four pregnant women were rescued during the raid.
In September 2025, an inter-state ring operating between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh was dismantled following a decoy operation, underscoring the cross-border scale of the problem. Further investigation in the Mandya case is currently underway.
Point of View
Mandya, and even Andhra Pradesh. The presence of a government doctor and an ASHA worker among the 17 accused is the most alarming detail: it suggests the system meant to protect vulnerable women was itself compromised. The Karnataka Lokayukta's suo motu intervention signals that the state's health regulatory machinery has failed to self-correct. With 12 FIRs and a key suspect still absconding, the real test is whether the investigation reaches the demand side — who commissioned these scans, and why.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mandya sex determination racket case?
It is an alleged illegal sex determination racket in K.R. Pet town of Mandya district, Karnataka, where two diagnostic centres — Naavi Diagnostics Centre and Kushal Diagnostics Centre — reportedly conducted illegal scans, including on minor pregnant girls. Police have filed 12 FIRs against 17 accused individuals.
Who has been arrested in the Mandya case?
Three doctors have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody: Dr. Divya Chetana of Divya Maternity Centre, Dr. Harshit of Naavi Diagnostic Centre, and Dr. Harish of Kushal Diagnostic Centre. Gynaecologist Dr. Priyanka remains absconding.
What role has the Karnataka Lokayukta played?
The Karnataka Lokayukta has taken suo motu cognisance of the case. Upa Lokayukta Justice B. Veerappa registered the case based on complaints about illegal scanning of minor pregnant girls, after preliminary investigations identified POCSO Act violations at the diagnostic centres.
What POCSO Act violations are alleged in this case?
Investigators allege that the diagnostic centres failed to report minors under 18 years of age to local police and relevant authorities — a mandatory legal obligation under the POCSO Act. The involvement of minor pregnant girls in the alleged sex determination tests triggered this specific charge.
Is this the first such racket busted in Karnataka?
No. Multiple female foeticide rackets have been busted in Karnataka between late 2023 and October 2025, primarily in the Mysuru and Mandya regions. A farmhouse raid in Hanuganahalli, Mysuru in October 2025 led to five arrests and the rescue of four pregnant women, while an inter-state ring between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh was dismantled in September 2025.
