TIRUNELVELI: The plot of baby theft case from the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital thickened on Friday after police claimed that the entire drama was masterminded by the mother of the missing child.
On Thursday, Priya (name changed) (37), a resident of Nalumavadi in Thoothukudi district, had claimed that her newborn had been abducted by an unidentified helper, who had taken the child for vaccination. Meanwhile, suspicion of the police was aroused when Priya gave evasive replies. Police with the help of TVMCH administration studied the CCTV footage and identified the helper as Jayalakshmi.
Sources in the hospital said that the child was born out of an illicit relationship. Priya had voluntarily given the baby to Jayalakshmi to “dispose of it”, the sources said, adding that the entire drama was enacted to distract the investigators.
“Priya had married a 74-year-old man. However, he passed away last year. The baby she gave birth to on September 9 was born 14 months after the demise of her first husband. She came to the hospital with none to assist her. A driver, who had brought her, had signed the documents. Her mother too came only after the delivery,” a senior official of the hospital said.
The senior official said Priya’s statement that she gave the baby to the helper for vaccination was dubious, as the newborns were given shots inside the ward.
“Besides, Priya raised an alarm only after 11 am. However, she had given the child to Jayalakshmi at 8.45 am. Her entire version is a story cooked up to divert attention,” he added.
Meanwhile, police were on the lookout for Jayalakshmi. “Once we catch her all things will get clear,” said a police official.