Selling of Newborn: High Court Stays Proceedings against the Accused

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday stayed further proceedings in a case against gynaecologist Dr Shyamala Mukundan and nine others, for allegedly selling a newborn to a couple at Payyannur in Kannur years ago.

Justice Alexander Thomas issued the interim order on a petition filed by Shyamala Mukundan seeking to quash the FIR in the case. The Payyannur police had registered a case against gynaecologist Dr Shyamala, her husband Dr Mukundan Nambiar and Dr V C Raveendran, who is the superintendent of the private hospital where the trade allegedly took place, and others for the offence under 370 (Buying or disposing of any person as a slave) and IPC 371 (Habitual dealing in slave).

The case was registered on a complaint from Rajan C Nair stating that the baby was sold for `6 lakh to a couple at Payyannur. According to the complainant, he is the neighbour of the couple and had seen a child in their house from January 2010 onwards. He pointed out that Anitha is a person who could not conceive. The birth certificate from the Registrar of Births stated that the child was born to the couple and the birth of the child was at their residence. The doctor gave the child to the couple for `6 lakh, the complainant stated.

Dr Shyamala submitted that the complainant is not a relative of the couple and he is a wayfarer. The complainant was also involved in several criminal cases and had also been in police custody. Even if the allegation in the FIR is true, it would not disclose any offence. This was a case initiated out of malice and ill will, she submitted.

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