Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh July 10-
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) in a significant development, has arrested four individuals comprising a joint Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) team from Haryana and Punjab red-handed during a sting operation while taking a bribe of Rs 70,000. These suspects along with other officials and private persons have formed an inter-state nexus to take bribes for illegal ultrasound sex determination tests from various clinics running in Punjab and Haryana in connivance with each other.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the arrested individuals have been identified as Deepak Goyal posted as Pharmacist, at Civil Hospital, Sirsa, Gurjit Singh posted as District Coordinator for PNDT, Civil Surgeon, Barnala, Raj Singh posted as Peon at Civil Surgeon's office, Bathinda, and Surinder Singh Driver at Civil Surgeon's office, Sirsa.
He further informed that Dr. Ashok Kumar, a seasoned clinician with three decades of practice in Patran, district Patiala, has approached the VB and informed that in 2020 he faced charges under the PNDT Act following a joint investigation by local doctors from Punjab and the PNDT incharge in Sirsa, Haryana. However, the subsequent raid on his clinic, Mahavir Hospital, in March 2024 yielded no incriminating evidence, leading to an inconclusive outcome.