HYDERABAD: Citing financial difficulties and the child’s physical disability, the biological parents of a 12-day-old infant boy attempted to sell him through mediators to a childless couple for Rs 1.7 lakh.
The illegal transfer was foiled by the Women and Child Welfare (WCW) department and police, who rescued the infant and placed him under the care of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
Based on a complaint lodged by WCW official K Ramu, Kulsumpura police registered a Zero FIR under Section 143(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 80 and 81 of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act. The case was later transferred to Nandigama police station, where the offence falls under territorial jurisdiction.
According to the inquiry, the infant was born on May 28 at a private hospital in Tukkuguda to Mohan and his wife Sandhya. Investigators found that the couple, allegedly struggling financially and concerned about the child’s disability, agreed to hand over the baby to Padma Paltiya, a relative of Mohan.
The probe further revealed that Madhusudhan and Meena, a couple who had remained childless for nearly 18 years, were looking to adopt a child and approached Potharaju Suresh of Jiyaguda for assistance. Suresh allegedly contacted Padma, and the two acted as mediators in arranging the transfer.
Police said the infant was handed over to Madhusudhan and Meena at JP Dargah in Kothur mandal of Rangareddy district. As part of the arrangement, the couple allegedly paid Rs 1.7 lakh to Padma in the presence of Suresh.
Officials said the transfer was carried out without following the legal adoption process prescribed under law.
Acting on specific information, WCW officials intervened and produced the infant before the CWC, Hyderabad. Following the committee’s directions, the baby was shifted to Shishu Vihar in Ameerpet for care, safety and protection.
Further investigation is under way, police said.
