A 32-year-old minivan driver was arrested on Thursday for allegedly kidnapping a baby from a pavement dweller in Parry’s Corner.
Police said Shanthi (32), a pavement dweller at Aranmanaikara Theru in Parrys, gave birth to a baby boy about 40 days ago at the Government Raja Sir Ramasamy Mudaliar (RSRM) hospital in Royapuram.
Two weeks ago, she went to the hospital to get the child vaccinated.
Meanwhile, one Krishnaveni of East Mada Street in Villivakkam, along with Muthu (32), a mini-van driver from Madurai, approached Shanthi at the hospital and enticed her into selling the baby to them.
A furious Shanthi, however, screamed at them, following which, the two left the spot. However, they followed Shanthi to her place and bought food and clothes for the baby.
They pampered the mother and child to such an extent that Shanthi even left the baby under Krishnaveni’s care while going for work in the neighbourhood.
On Tuesday, Krishnaveni and Muthu visited Shanthi and offered to look after the baby. Shanthi, who left the baby with them, went to a church nearby and returned only to find the baby and the duo missing. Following this, she lodged a complaint with the Esplanade Police, who registered a case.
Police traced Krishnaveni and rescued the baby from her home in Villivakkam.
Subsequently, Muthu was arrested by the police on the charge of kidnapping the baby.