Sting operation catches Indian practitioner illegally selling abortion drugs

Indian police have once again unearthed how the black market abortion pill trade is thriving in the country — this time at a clinic in Nalasopara, where an Ayurvedic practitioner allegedly acted as an unlawful prescriber of abortion drugs.

The raid came after a complaint from the local health team of the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) was filed against the doctor, according to the Hindustan Times. 

The Details:

Police have identified the accused as Dr. Zabihullah Abdullah Khan, a practitioner with a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degree, who operates the Shaheena Clinic located in Siddhivinayak Chawl, Nalasopara East.

Investigations revealed that Khan was illegally prescribing abortion drugs to women though he is not an OBGYN. His clinic promoted services such as “family physician, surgeon, and pathology,” but he had allegedly been administering allopathic injections and prescribing abortion drugs, though he does not have licensure in allopathic medicine.

Local activists filed multiple complaints, and Municipal Health Officer Bhakti Chaudhary filed a police report at the Pelhar police station.

In an attempt to catch Khan in illegal activity, a sting operation was done by the Municipal Corporation on Monday, December 8, using a person posing as a patient. Through the operation, officials confirmed that Dr. Khan was unlawfully supplying abortion pills for ₹1,500 (1,500 rupees/approx $16 USD) even though he was not qualified to do so. An inspection report was prepared on-site, and authorities found that Khan had a stock of illegal abortion drugs.

Khan was not arrested at the time, as the charges carry a maximum sentence of less than seven years. The law makes clear that arrest in such cases is not mandatory, so the police gave Khan a notice instead and continued their investigations. 

Senior police inspector Sachin Kamble of the Pelhar police station declared:

 “A case has been registered against the doctor. Since the offences attract a punishment of less than seven years, no arrest was made, and a notice has been issued. This will help curb the sale of illegal abortion pills in Nalasopara and prioritize women’s safety.”

This recent raid fits into a wider trend across India, where non-specialists or unregistered clinics have been caught conducting illegal abortions or disseminating abortion drugs illegally. In 2017, a different Ayurvedic practitioner was caught dispensing medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) kits containing abortion drugs via a sting operation. Other Ayurvedic medicine practitioners and other non-OBGYNs have been charged for similar offenses, affirming concerns that the lives of women and preborn children are put at an even greater risk when women obtain abortion drugs for DIY abortions from individuals who are unable to provide them with medical assistance if complications occur.

The Bottom Line: 

The Nalasopara case is a sober reminder that legislation must be coupled with tangible shifts in cultural attitudes towards abortion. When doctors with no specialist qualifications like Khan can perform abortions under the guise of providing health services, the law risks becoming a paper promise instead of a defense for the most vulnerable.

This case is a good wake-up call for Indian authorities and society to adopt a more comprehensive pro-life ethic: more thorough oversight of clinics, prosecution of illegal abortion providers, and real life-affirming alternatives for vulnerable mothers experiencing unplanned pregnancies.