A trained nurse, a repeat offender under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act 1994, involved in illicit sex determination of foetus was slapped with Goondas Act by Dharmapuri District Collector V. Saravanan. The case pertained to illicit sex determination and abortion of the foetus of Navaneedha of Palayamputhur village. Navaneedha and her husband Neelakandan were parents to two girls. Navneet got pregnant a third time and sought the help of Pachayammal, a middlewoman, to determine the sex of the foetus.Navaneedha went to Pachaymmal’s house in Mattanulahalli, where the prime accused Karpagam had carried out ultra sound on Navaneedha. Upon finding out that the sex of the foetus was female, she aborted her pregnancy. However, the abortion was botched leading to excessive bleeding for Navaneedha.The incident came to light after she was admitted to the hospital. Inquiry led the authorities to Pachayammal’s house, leading to the arrest of Karpagam. The Adhiyaman Kottai police, who led the raid also seized equipment including a blood pressure machine from Karpagam.Karpagam, a nurse, had been involved in similar such cases, and has been to prison twice. She was arrested and lodged in Dharmapuri jail. The Collector slapped Goondas Act on Karpagam, upon the recommendation of SP Arun Kabilan. Published - August 12, 2026 08:33 pm IST