A newborn baby boy was rescued by the Women and Child Welfare Department of the Kunigal Government Hospital from being sold to a childless couple recently.
Based on a complaint by Huccharangamma, senior supervisor of the department, the Kunigal police arrested five people, including a 45-year-old Anganwadi worker, who allegedly mediated the sale. The baby was rescued from the couple and is being treated at the hospital .
According to the complainant, she received a tip-off from her source in the hospital about the sale of a newborn baby boy on Monday. She rushed to the hospital and conducted an inquiry to find that a 21-year-old woman from Magadi taluk was admitted to the hospital after she complained of stomach ache, where she delivered a baby boy.
As the mother was unmarried, she along, with her male friend Srinanda, 24, a labourer, decided to give away the baby. Srinanda allegedly had an affair with the woman promising marriage and later refused to marry her after she became pregnant. The accused assured to help her abort and later got her admitted to the hospital after she complained of severe stomach ache.
Srinanda contacted his relative, identified as Jyothi N., an Anganwadi worker, for help. Jyothi approached Mubarak Pasha and his wife, a childless couple, and clinched a deal for ₹60,000.
The accused as per the deal came to the hospital and handed over the baby at the hospital premises after discharge and dispersed after taking the money.
The Kunigal police tracked down Mubarak Pasha, a labourer, and rescued the baby boy, and also arrested the other four people, including the mother of the baby and her male friend.
The police summoned the families of both the accused and counseled them before admitting the baby to the hospital for necessary care.
The accused have been booked under Section 80 ( adopting a child without following the prescribed procedures) and 81 (Sale and procurement of children for any purpose) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
Published - February 25, 2025 10:24 pm IST
