Mumbai: A Nallasopara-based doctor among four has been arrested by the Mumbai police for allegedly trying to sell an eight-month-old baby for Rs 5 lakh on Wednesday.
To bust the baby-selling racket, Mumbai Police had set a trap on the basis of a tip-off and had nabbed a couple from near state transport bus depot in Virar. After rescuing the child, the Police sent the eight-month-old to a child care center for the time being.
The couple, belonging to Narangu Village in Virar, have been identified as Sonjit Mandal (40) and Manju (37). Apart from the couple, the 48-year-old doctor and an agent Anita Bhave (50) have also been nabbed by the Police. They have been taken into Police Custody till February 16 by the Vasai Court. The police are looking into the matter if the baby was being sold to an agent or was to be directly handed over to a childless couple.
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As per the latest media report by Mid-day, following the death of Manju's sister a couple of months ago, her eight-month-old had been staying with the couple and their four kids since then and being taken care of by the couple. A few months ago, the couple had visited the clinic of the doctor for a check-up and the doctor had allegedly offered the couple to sell the baby for money. Convincing the couple the doctor had asked agent Anita to look for a customer and she had approached a Gujarat-based NGO Ashapura Maa Foundation Charitable trust run by Manjuben Karia with the offer. Following this, the NGO informed Virar Police about the matter.
Speaking about the matter, Manjuben told Mid-day, "Anita said she wanted to sell an eight-month-old baby girl for Rs 2.5 lakh. She also told me about the doctor who was ready to give Rs,5 lakh to the couple for the baby and said that she would give it to me if I paid her Rs 3 lakh. I immediately informed the Virar police and met assistant police inspector Abhijeet Tailor regarding it."
She further added, "The accused couple was called at a place in Virar with the baby on Wednesday night, from where they were arrested."
Meanwhile, a police officer has informed the daily, "We received information from the NGO, following which we trapped the accused and arrested them. We have also nabbed the accused doctor and agent. We suspect that they were involved in a baby-selling racket. We are investigating the matter further."
The Times of India adds that the couple had confessed to selling the baby for Rs 5 lakh. They also had confessed that the baby had been handed over by the doctor who had got the baby with the help of agent Anita.
TOI adds that the accused have been booked under IPC section 370 (1) (whoever knowingly or having reason to believe that a minor for engaging in sexual exploitation) and Juvenile Justice(Care and Protection of Children) Bill.