A 14-day-old female baby was allegedly sold to a childless couple at Gollapalem Gattu area in Kothapet in the city.

The Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) Department lodged a complaint with the Two Town police, who reportedly took five persons into custody on Thursday.

According to sources, the couple, Sai Lakshmi and Chinna Rao, had two daughters and Ms. Lakshmi delivered a girl baby on November 30. Chinna Rao is an auto driver.

The couple contacted a childless couple, G. Gayatri Devi and Venkateswara Rao of Jangareddygudem, through a mediator, Jyothi, of Madhuranagar in the city.

The biological and adopted parents reportedly met at their relative’s house in Vijayawada a couple of days ago. Sai Lakshmi allegedly sold the infant to Gayatri Devi for ₹1 lakh.

On information, Child Development Project Officer Manoranjani, visited Chinna Rao’s house along with Anganwadi supervisor and enquired about the missing baby, said WD&CW Krishna district Project Director K. Krishna Kumari.

“We recovered the baby from the adopted parents and shifted it to Buddavaram Sishu Gruha, being run by the government,” District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Ch. Vijay Kumar told The Hindu.

“Sai Lakshmi and Chinna Rao sold the infant due to poverty. We are conducting awareness programmes on illegal adoption,” said Ms. Krishna Kumari.

Police took both the parents and the mediator into custody. A few more persons who mediated for the illegal adoption are likely to be arrested, the police added.