The botany graduate knew that sex determination was illegal and that lab authorities are supposed to get a written statement from pregnant women visiting the lab that sex determination tests were not carried out on the foetus, and yet carried out the tests after the senior doctors he had employed quit three years ago.

After the Directorate of Medical Services (DMS) at Teynampet received a number of complaints against the laboratory, the Velachery police conducted a raid, and discovered that Sivasankaran had determined the sex of at least 500 foetuses. According to the police, he would charge approximately Rs 1,200 for each sex determination test.

Equipment from the lab, including an ultrasound machine which was being used without a permit, were seized and Sivasankaran arrested. He is now injudicial custody.

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