Adoption racket unearthed in Delhi; four arrested

Delhi police today claimed to have blown the lid off an adoption racket in the capital with the arrest of four persons, including a doctor and two women, and rescue of an 11-day-old girl and an eight-month-old boy.

The gang allegedly used to prepare forged documents showing that the woman who bought the child was admitted to a hospital and delivered the baby. The women were running NGOs and allegedly indulging in selling infants to couples.

"The gang used to charge around Rs1.8 lakh for a child out of which Rs30,000 were given to the parents," Ashok Chand, deputy commissioner of police (Crime), said.

Pawan Sharma (38), Ranjeeta Bhasin (48), Shobha Gupta and Dr Atul Kumar were arrested from various parts of the city after investigations following a tip-off.

The first to be arrested were Sharma and Bhasin from Shivaji Vihar when the former came to hand over an eight-month-old boy. Their interrogation led to Gupta while Kumar who allegedly helped forge some documents was also arrested.

"Sharma told us that two months ago, a man from West Bengal had given him the boy which he gave to Bhasin for finding a customer. He also told us that he procured an infant girl from East Delhi for Rs 30,000," Chand said.

Bhasin has been running two NGOs 'Nav Roshini Chetna Mahilla Samiti' and 'Nav Jyoti Anathalaya' in Raghubir Nagar from 1998. She told police that ten days ago she gave an infant girl to Gupta.

Gupta was apprehended from Dwarka. She was running an NGO 'Child Care' in Vashistha Park from 2004.

"She told us that she was introduced by one Anupama Lal to a young woman who wanted a child. Gupta told her that she could arrange her a girl for Rs1.80 lakh.

"The reasons given for the demand of money was that it would be required for completion of legal formalities. The money was paid and Gupta gave the girl to the woman. The girl has been recovered," Chand said.

Gupta then took the woman to a medical centre in Prashant Vihar where Kumar got prepared certain "forged" documents, Chand said.

"Kumar was also contacted by Bhasin and Gupta for preparing false documents regarding the infant girl. He showed the lady as admitted in his medical centre on December 11 and discharged next day and that she delivered the girl," Chand said. Kumar was allegedly paid Rs 20,000 in this case.

Out of the Rs1.80 lakh they get from the buyer, Sharma used to take Rs25,000 while Bhasin's share was Rs10,000, Gupta's Rs75,000, Anupama Lal's (of Bal Vihar) Rs20,000 and the doctor's Rs20,000. Lal is yet to be apprehended.

Both the infants have been handed over to SOS Upvan Home in Safdarjung Enclave for their care.

The four arrested were produced before a court here which sent the doctor to 14 days judicial custody and other three to police remand till December 23 for further interrogation.