Delhi: 2 Rescued, 7 Arrested As CBI Busts Child Trafficking Gang Selling Infants To Childless Couples

A woman involved in selling the infants and a man who purchased them have been apprehended and are currently undergoing interrogation.

Image used for representational purposes only | The CBI apprehended seven members of the trafficking ring, who were subsequently taken into custody by the agency.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has dismantled a child trafficking ring by apprehending seven individuals engaged in selling infants to childless couples through social media advertisements. During the operation, the officials managed to rescue two infants, as reported by officials on Saturday. Acting on intelligence regarding the child trafficking network, the investigation agency conducted raids at various sites in Delhi and Haryana on Friday evening, news agency PTI reported. 

Following the operation, the CBI apprehended seven members of the trafficking ring, who were subsequently taken into custody by the agency. Among those arrested are Neeraj from Sonipat, Indu Pawar from Delhi's Paschim Vihar, Aslam from Patel Nagar, Pooja Kashyap from Kanhaiya Nagar, Anjali from Malviya Nagar, Kavita, and Ritu.

During the operation, the agency uncovered two infants, aged 1.5 days and 15 days respectively, whom the gang intended to sell at Keshavpuram. A woman involved in selling the infants and a man who purchased them have been apprehended and are currently undergoing interrogation, as stated by officials of the CBI, PTI reported.

Additionally, other individuals suspected of involvement in child trafficking ring are being questioned by authorities, officials further informed.

#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

The gang allegedly contacted childless couples who desired to adopt babies, through advertisement, on social media platforms like Facebook page and WhatsApp groups.

"They allegedly purchase babies from real parents as well as surrogate mothers and thereafter sell the infant children at prices ranging from Rs 4 to 6 lakh per child. These accused are also allegedly involved in duping many childless couples of lakhs of rupees by creating fake documents related to adoption," CBI officials said regarding the operation, as quoted by PTI.

During the search operations, the CBI seized Rs 5.5 lakh in cash along with other relevant documents.

The agency has filed cases against ten individuals, including those who have been arrested, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015.