Lucknow News: Lucknow family ‘sells’ newborn for Rs 3 lakh to fund house construction | Lucknow News
LUCKNOW: A newborn boy was allegedly sold for Rs 3 lakh by a family as payment for the construction of a house in Lucknow.The family used forged hospital papers to portray the transfer as a legitimate birth. An FIR was lodged against five accused, including the infant’s biological mother, the woman who received the child, and two doctors, at Lucknow’s Gudamba police station on Tuesday.The case came to light after Child Helpline officials received information on Aug 3 that a newborn had been illegally transferred through a clinic. A joint inquiry was initiated by Child Helpline, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) and police.According to the FIR, a team including Child Helpline project coordinator Jaywati, counsellor Richa Sudhir, case worker Tushar Singh, AHTU inspector Dashrath Singh, sub-inspector Gulab Singh and Gudamba police traced the baby to the residence of Renu Sharma in Shanti Vihar, Phoolbag Colony. The infant was recovered and the matter was taken up for verification of parentage and medical documentation.Police said the child is the biological son of Aarti Devi, wife of Rajesh Nigam, a resident of Gudamba, and Aarti had given the baby to Renu in exchange for Rs 3 lakh. Police said the money was used for house construction, and the transaction is being treated as an illegal transfer of a child.The probe also pointed to fabricated medical and delivery records. Police said documents were prepared at the polyclinic showing Renu as the mother, despite her not undergoing pregnancy or delivery at the facility. The papers were intended to conceal the child’s identity and provide the transfer with the appearance of a lawful birth.Both women and the infant were brought to the Women’s Help Desk at Gudamba police station, where statements were videographed.On a complaint by Child Helpline officials, police booked the accused under Sections 80 and 81 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, along with relevant Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions for forgery and cheating. Gudamba SHO Anjani Mishra said the couple already had four children and did not want to raise a fifth, and police have written to Lucknow Chief Medical Officer seeking an inquiry into the hospital’s role.
