The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has uncovered a syndicate of infant traffickers engaged in the illicit buying and selling of infants across India. In a coordinated operation, the CBI conducted searches at seven locations in Delhi and Haryana. During the operation, CBI rescued two male infants aged 1.5 days and 15 days, and one girl child aged one month, from a residence in the Keshavpuram area of Delhi.
Incriminating evidence, including Rs 5.5 lakh in cash and various documents, was seized during the searches. Additionally, CBI apprehended seven individuals connected to the human trafficking network. The arrested individuals were identified as Neeraj, Indu Pawar, Aslam, Pooja Kashyap, Ritu, Anjali, and Kavita. Neeraj hailed from Sonepat in Haryana, while the others resided in different areas of Delhi.
#WATCH | CBI conducted raids at several locations in Delhi yesterday, in connection with child trafficking. During the raid, the CBI team rescued two newborn babies from a house in Keshavpuram.
CBI is interrogating the woman who sold the children and the person who bought them… pic.twitter.com/ugGTukT8QC
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2024
CBI has initiated a criminal case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 against 10 accused. The allegations suggest that a network of infant traffickers is involved in the buying and selling of infants across India, primarily for adoption purposes, as well as other unlawful activities.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the accused individuals utilize social media platforms such as Facebook pages and WhatsApp groups to connect with childless couples seeking to adopt babies. They allegedly acquire infants from biological parents and surrogate mothers, subsequently selling them to prospective adoptive parents at prices ranging from 4 to 6 lakhs per child. Moreover, the accused are suspected of defrauding numerous childless couples by fabricating adoption-related documents. The investigation is ongoing, with efforts focused on unraveling the full extent of the trafficking network.
