Chennai, Aug 27:
A two-day-old baby girl was allegedly sold for Rs 4 lakh to a childless couple from Andhra Pradesh at Villivakkam, prompting police to launch an investigation into an alleged illegal child sale racket involving intermediaries and a private hospital employee.
The incident came to light after officials of the Chennai District Child Protection Unit (North) received information that a baby girl born at a reputed private hospital in Villivakkam on August 18 had been handed over to the Andhra Pradesh couple.
Following a complaint from Malarkodi, a social worker attached to the Child Protection Unit, Villivakkam police registered a case and began an investigation.
Police found that Pavithra, 19, of Korukkupet, had allegedly handed over her second daughter to Ganesamurthy and Selvarasi, a couple from Andhra Pradesh, for Rs 4 lakh with the help of intermediaries.
Police said Pavithra was already a mother of one child and was facing severe financial difficulties as her husband, Ganesh alias Kulla Ganesh, has been in Puzhal prison for more than eight months in connection with a criminal case.
According to the investigation, Pavithra had shared her financial difficulties with Andal, 64, of Ayanavaram, and Dhanalakshmi, 26, of Korukkupet. Andal allegedly told her that a couple from Andhra Pradesh, who had been childless for several years, was willing to take her second child and pay Rs 4 lakh. The couple would also bear the expenses of the delivery, police said.
The two intermediaries allegedly approached Durga, 43, a receptionist at the private hospital, and informed her about Pavithra’s details. They allegedly asked her to facilitate the handover of the baby after delivery without creating any complications.
When Pavithra developed labour pain, Dhanalakshmi allegedly took her to the hospital, where she delivered a baby girl on August 18.
Police said the baby was allegedly handed over to the Andhra Pradesh couple the following day after Pavithra received Rs 4 lakh. In the presence of the intermediaries and the hospital receptionist, the child was allegedly handed over to the couple.
Of the amount received, Pavithra allegedly paid Rs 50,000 each as commission to the hospital receptionist Durga and intermediary Andal. However, Dhanalakshmi allegedly did not receive her share, which is suspected to have led to the child-sale details being exposed.
Police have registered a case under six sections in connection with the alleged illegal sale of the child and are questioning Pavithra, Andal, Dhanalakshmi and hospital receptionist Durga.
The baby has since been rescued from the Andhra Pradesh couple and brought back under the supervision of the authorities. The couple has also been brought to Chennai for questioning.
Police are also investigating allegations that the hospital owner, Dr Rajasekar, and administrator Dr Visalakshi were aware of the alleged transaction. Investigators are verifying the truth behind the claims made by the intermediaries and have not established the hospital management’s involvement at this stage.
The police are also probing whether Andal, Dhanalakshmi and Durga, along with any hospital staff or management, had been involved in similar illegal child-sale transactions in the past.