TELANGANA: Doctor among seven held for selling infants in Nalgonda
HYDERABAD: Nalgonda Police have arrested seven persons, including a doctor and two couples, in connection with the illegal sale of two infants in Nalgonda district, Superintendent of Police Sharath Chandra Pawar said on Wednesday.
He told reporters at the district police office that three special teams were formed after an Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) supervisor, Saraswathi, lodged a complaint. The complaint stated that a 10-day-old girl and a 21-day-old boy had been sold in separate incidents on October 27 and 28.
Two cases unearthed
In the first case, Korra Babu and his wife Parvathi from Ellapuram Tanda in Thirumalagiri Sagar mandal sold their 15-day-old daughter. Parvathi had delivered the baby at Nirmala Hospital in Haliya.
Babu reportedly told Dr Shanti Priya, a Hyderabad-based doctor working at the hospital, that he wanted to sell the baby. Acting as a mediator, the doctor contacted a couple from Eluru — Kadali Sambamurthy and Rajitha — and negotiated a deal for ₹2.30 lakh.
On October 25, the couple paid ₹10,000 as advance and took the baby. Police later arrested Babu, the Eluru couple, and Dr Shanti Priya.
Second case exposed
In the second case, Orsu Srinu and his wife Malathi from Konayigudem village in Gurrampode mandal decided to sell their unborn child. The couple had returned from Odisha two months ago, where they had been working as labourers.
Srinu discussed the plan with his distant relative, also named Orsu Srinu from Boyinapalli village in Kanagal mandal, who informed a childless couple — Vemula Nagaraju and Suvarna — from his village.
Malathi gave birth to a baby boy at Nalgonda Government Hospital on October 8. On October 15, after discharge, Srinu and Malathi handed over the infant to Nagaraju and Suvarna for ₹4.50 lakh, in the presence of the middleman.
Infants rescued, investigation on
Police rescued both infants and shifted them to a state-run child care home. SP Pawar reminded the public that “illegal adoption or sale of children is a criminal offence” and advised parents to follow legal adoption procedures. He commended DSP Shivaram Reddy and District Women and Child Welfare Officer Krishnaveni for their role in cracking the case. During searches, police seized ₹20,000 in cash, seven mobile phones, and written sale agreements from the accused.
