Month-old baby sold for Rs 1.20 lakh, resold 4 times; parents used money to buy phones, gold chain

A one-month-old baby was allegedly sold by his parents for Rs 1.20 lakh in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, with police claiming that the couple used the money to buy two expensive mobile phones and a gold chain.

The case has led to an investigation into a suspected inter-state baby trafficking network, with seven people arrested so far. Police are also tracing the alleged chain through which the infant was transferred multiple times before reaching Hyderabad.

Baby allegedly sold four times

The incident came to light in the Mukundwadi area, where the baby’s parents allegedly handed over their infant to a middlewoman in exchange for money.

According to the police investigation, the parents allegedly sold the baby to Seema Reshwal for Rs 1.20 lakh. Police claim that the couple then used the money to purchase two expensive mobile phones and a gold chain. The items are being seized as part of the investigation.

Reshwal allegedly sold the infant to Sangeeta Awhad, a resident of Padegaon, for Rs 2.70 lakh.

Awhad then allegedly took the baby to Nanded, where she handed him over to Suresh Guntuka, whom police have described as a bogus doctor. Investigators said Guntuka allegedly bought the child for Rs 3.50 lakh.

Infant allegedly taken to Hyderabad

In the fourth transaction, Guntuka allegedly handed the baby to his relative Uma Khatkam, who lives in Hyderabad. Police said the child was transferred for the same amount of Rs 3.50 lakh.

The successive transactions have led investigators to suspect an organised network involved in the illegal sale or transfer of infants.

Seven arrested in case

Police have arrested seven people in connection with the case, including the baby’s parents and individuals allegedly involved in the successive transactions.

Those named in the investigation include Reshwal, Awhad and Guntuka. Police are questioning the arrested accused to establish the complete chain of alleged transactions and determine the role played by each person.

Investigators are also examining whether those arrested could be linked to other cases involving the illegal sale or transfer of infants.

Police are working to trace and safely recover the baby from Hyderabad. The investigation remains underway.