Four accused in oocyte sale case detained under Goondas Act

Four persons who were involved in oocyte sale case were detained under the Goondas Act here on Thursday.

Based on recommendations of the Superintendent of Police V. Sasimohan, Collector H. Krishnanunni invoked provisions of the Act against the 16-year-old girl’s mother, the mother’s companion, a woman intermediary and the 40-year-old man who prepared the fake Aadhaar card in the case.

Currently, the two women are lodged at the Coimbatore Central Prison for Women, and were served the detention orders. The mother’s companion and the 40-year-old man, who were lodged in a prison at Gobichettipalayam and the sub-jail in Erode, were moved to the Coimbatore Central Prison after serving the detention orders.

Based on the girl’s complaint to the Erode South police in June, 2022, the police registered a case under Sections 5(l), (m), (n) r/w 6,16 r/w 17 of POCSO Act, 2012, Section 420, 464, 41, 506 (ii) of IPC and Section 34 and 35 of The Aadhaar (Targeted) Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies Benefits and Services Act, 2016, and arrested the four.

The Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services held inquiries after which the four private hospitals, involved in receiving the oocytes from the girl, in Erode, Perundurai, Salem and Krishnagiri were closed recently.