Babies sold to doctors, techie for up to Rs 4.5 lakh each

MUMBAI: Wadala police, probing a baby-selling racket, have found that the buyers of three newborns are a Worli doctor, a Bengaluru software engineer and a Thane gynaecologist paediatrician couple. Babies born to poor parents were sold to them for Rs 4-4.5 lakh each.

“We have found three sets of parents and three sets of child buyers. Their statements are being recorded,” said a senior police officer. The baby-selling racket was busted by Wadala Truck Terminal police last month with the arrest of a 29-year-old child trafficker, Julia Fernandes, a Worli resident. She had bought a seven-day old boy from Munna Shaikh (38) and his wife Shazia (35) for Rs 20,000. She was to sell him for Rs 1.5 lakh. The police caught her before she could conclude the deal with the potential buyer.

“The baby was sent to a childcare centre. The juvenile justice board has named him Adhiraj. His father, Shaikh, has been arrested. He told the police he was debt-ridden and wanted to repay a loan of Rs 1 lakh,” said a police officer.

According to sources, the Bengaluru software engineer bought a child from Julia for Rs 4.5 lakh, while the Thane doctor couple paid Rs 4 lakh. The amount the Worli doctor paid has not been disclosed. “The Worli doctor, who was childless, knew the prime accused, Julia. The deal was made for a much lower amount than what the others paid,” said a source. “Julia was a patient of the doctor and that is how they might made their plan.”

Because of several factors, there is a long waiting list for adoption in India.

A police officer said no money has been found in the woman’s account.

Police teams have visited Bengaluru and New Delhi in search of child traffickers and buyers. An officer said cops were still making inquiries. Investigators have recovered 50-60 photographs of some children. Their identities and whether they were sold is yet to be established.