Tamil Nadu: Government Hospital Doctor, Broker Arrested Over Sale Of Newborns

The incident came to light when a couple, S Dinesh and Nagajothi, said that they were approached to sell their newborn baby for Rs 2 lakh.

A government hospital doctor and a broker were apprehended for allegedly facilitating the "sale" of infants. According to Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian, an investigation by the district administration uncovered the doctor and the broker's involvement in the trafficking of infants and kidneys. The incident came to light when a couple, S Dinesh and Nagajothi, said that they were approached to sell their newborn baby for Rs 2 lakh.

The arrested have been identified as broker named Logambal and doctor Anuradha.

Addressing reporters, Health Minister Ma Subramanian said, a government doctor and and a middleman were arrested for selling seven newborn babies from couples who had more than two children to childless couples across Tamil Nadu.

Legal and department-wise action will be taken against those involved in the sale of infant and kidney traffickers after a thorough investigation, he said.

The Tiruchengode police said, a woman approached a couple to sell their newborn baby for Rs 2 lakh. The couple S Dinesh and Nagajothi had their third baby girl on October 12.

Following this, the couple approached the police. Based on the couple's complaint, Tiruchengode police registered a case and started the probe. 

The preliminary investigation revealed that Logambal had sold seven infants and kidneys.

S Rajesh Kannan, the superintendent of police for Namakkal district, and S Uma, the collector, organised a secret investigation. "The doctor and the broker have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody," a police officer who wished to remain unnamed said. "They have acknowledged selling seven babies. This is something that Logammbal has been doing for a while," he added, as per Hindustan Times.

According to officials, in cases where a mother gives birth for the third time, regardless of the gender of the newborn, certain individuals try to lure them into selling the baby by offering money. These are typically families with lower income who deliver their babies in government hospitals. As per reports, a sum of ₹5,000 is offered for boys, and ₹3,000 for girls.

 

In this case, officials said, the babies were not stolen but the accused took advantage of the poverty of the couples. This violates the law and they have done this solely for money, as reported by Indian Express.