Delhi Police rescues 25-day-old baby, arrests two in Rs 8 lakh-trafficking deal

Investigators said the trafficking network may have sold nearly 30 infants across several states over the past 18 months, and efforts are continuing to trace more children and identify others linked to the syndicate.

In Short

• Investigators suspect syndicate sold nearly 30 infants across states
• Gang allegedly used forged records, private hospitals for adoptions
• Police arrested 13 people and continue interstate raids for rescues

Delhi Police has rescued a 25-day-old infant from Rohini and arrested two people for allegedly buying the baby for Rs 8 lakh, officials said on Monday. With this, the number of children recovered in an interstate child trafficking racket being investigated by the police has gone up to six.

The baby has been placed in protective custody and produced before the Child Welfare Committee, which has arranged for his care and rehabilitation. Investigators said the trafficking network may have sold nearly 30 infants across several states over the past 18 months, and efforts are continuing to trace more children and identify others linked to the syndicate.

The two arrested have been identified as Garima Jain and her father-in-law Satish Jain. Police said the Rohini family had allegedly bought the newborn around two-and-a-half weeks ago through a woman linked to the racket because they had no children.

Investigators suspect the infant was brought from a low-income family in Rajasthan's Pali district for about Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh and was later sold in Delhi for Rs 8 lakh.

Police said they are trying to identify the child's biological parents, adding that the families of all six rescued infants are yet to be traced.

According to the investigation, the syndicate targeted vulnerable families, including those from tribal areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat, and bought babies for as little as Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 before selling them to childless couples for Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

Officials said the gang worked through an organised chain of suppliers, transporters and middlemen, and allegedly used private hospitals along with forged birth and medical records to carry out the illegal adoptions.

The racket came to light after a decoy operation near RK Ashram Metro Station in Paharganj on June 5, when three people were caught allegedly trying to sell a four-to-five-day-old infant.

So far, 13 people have been arrested, including alleged traffickers, mediators, buyers and the owner of a private hospital in outer Delhi. Police had also arrested the alleged key supplier, Saybabhai Ghamar alias Kalia, from Gujarat on June 17.

Raids are continuing in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh to trace more infants and arrest other members of the syndicate. The latest rescue adds to the widening investigation into the interstate child trafficking network.

- Ends