Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS),  an outfit  crusading against superstitious beliefs, on Monday demanded criminal action against popular Marathi kirtankar (preacher) Indurikar Maharaj for his questionable claim that “if an intercourse with female on an even date will result in a male child and if it is done on an odd date, a female child is born”.

Upping the ante over a video clip containing Indurikar Maharaj’s questionable claim that has gone viral on social media, MANS has written to Ahmednagar’s District Police Superintendent and Civil Surgeon, making a strong case for booking the controversial preacher under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.

In the video, Indurikar Maharaj is seen telling a large gathering of his followers that if a man has intercourse with a woman on an even date, a male child is born, while he does it on an odd date, a girl child is born.

"If intercourse is done at inauspicious time, the child that is born would bring a bad name to the family. If the timing (of intercourse) is missed, the quality of the output (child) will be sub-standard," Indurikar Maharaj also heard telling his followers, at a religious gathering held in a village in Ahmednagar district last week.

Objecting to Indurikar Maharaj’s claims which he described as "scientific, outlandish, irresponsible", "insulting to women", and against the law and Constitution", MANS executive president Avinash Patil—in his representation to the district police superintendent and civil surgeon – said that the controversial preacher had violated the PCPNDT Act, which was enacted with an aim of stopping female foeticide and curb the declining sex ratio in the country.

The PCPNDT Act prohibits determination and disclosure of the sex of foetus . It also prohibits any advertisements relating to pre-natal determination of sex and prescribes punishment for its contravention. The person who contravenes the provisions of this Act is punishable with imprisonment and fine.

In his representation, Patil said that Indurikar Maharaj, through his baseless exhortations to his followers, had also violated the anti- Black Magic Act, Patil alleged.