The preliminary post-mortem conducted at Pune’s Sassoon General Hospital has confirmed that the male child’s body discovered in a drainage ditch on March 17 was that of a foetus, approximately 5-6 months into gestation. Dr. Rohan Metkari, assistant professor of forensic sciences, noted in the report that the likely cause of death was a severe head injury. The hospital has safeguarded the child’s viscera for chemical analysis and preserved the femur bone for DNA testing.

Senior Inspector Satyajit Adamane stated, “We are following specific leads to trace the child’s parents. The body was located behind Rajgad Housing Society, Surakshanagar, Hadapsar.” He added that the exact reason for the head injury remains uncertain but suspected the injury may have occurred when the foetus was discarded in the ditch.

To assist investigations, city police have sent alerts to all 40 police stations, directing them to visit hospitals and clinics—both private and government-run—to gather details on women who may have delivered stillborn or premature babies recently.

Initially, police believed the decomposed body was that of a seven-month-old child, discovered after drainage overflowed due to blockage. Sanitation workers found the body while clearing the ditch. The lack of CCTV surveillance and absence of witnesses have made inquiries difficult.

Authorities have registered an FIR under Section 94 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for concealing childbirth by clandestinely disposing of the dead body.