MADURAI: Footages from the CCTV cameras at the Government Rajaji Hospital helped police nab a woman patient for kidnapping a 10-day-old infant girl within four hours of the crime, here on Friday.
The matter came to light when one Muthu Karupusami (26) lodged a complaint with the police at the Government Rajaji Hospital alleging that her 10-day-old baby had been missing. She suspected the role of her neighbour in the hospital ward, Muthu Vignesh (35), behind the abduction.
Sources said Muthu Karupusami had on June 10 delivered a girl at the GRH. Her neighbour in the ward, Muthu Vignesh, a resident of Rajapalayam, had also delivered twin girls the same day.
As Muthu Karupusami was suffering from seizures, she was being treated in the ward. Meanwhile, the twins born to Muthu Vignesh were kept in incubator after they were found to be underweight. It was during this period that Muthu Vignesh and Muthu Karupusami became friends.
On Thursday, one of Muthu Vignesh’s babies died. Fearing that the second baby would also die, she decided to steal Muthu Karupusami’s child.
On Friday morning, when Muthu Karupusami had gone to wash her hands, Muthu Vignesh and her husband took Karupusami’s child and escaped from the hospital, leaving behind her other child. After a frantic hour-long search, Karupusami lodged a complaint with the police.
According to sources, “The police formed three teams to investigate the abduction. While scanning CCTV footages, police found out that Muthu Vignesh and her husband had stolen the baby. The baby was rescued and handed over to its parents.