Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Nov 25: Vakola police have rescued a five-year-old girl from Panvel and arrested six people, including the child’s maternal uncle, aunt, and a BAMS doctor, for their alleged involvement in a child trafficking racket. The child had gone missing in the early hours of November 21 while sleeping beside her mother on Nehru Road in Santacruz (East).
Police said the complainant, Pinky Rahul Sharma, regularly sleeps on the pavement with her two children, aged five and six. Around 4 am, she woke up to find her younger daughter missing and immediately filed a kidnapping complaint.
The accused have been identified as Lawrence Fernandes, his wife Mangal, her son Nitin, autorickshaw driver Latif Shaikh, agent Karan Maruti Sanas, and BAMS doctor Brinda Chavan.
CCTV footage revealed an autorickshaw halting briefly near the sleeping family moments before the child vanished. Based on technical surveillance, police detained driver Lateef Shaikh from Kalina. During questioning, he allegedly confessed that Lawrence and Mangal orchestrated the abduction.
Investigations showed that Shaikh drove the child to Panvel, where she was handed over to agent Karan Sanas, who allegedly paid Lawrence ?90,000. Police added that the kidnapping occurred between 2 am and 3 am.
Officers said Karan had earlier approached Lawrence claiming he knew someone childless who was willing to pay for a child. Lawrence then agreed to kidnap his niece and allegedly sold her for Rs 90,000.
After his arrest, Karan named Dr. Brinda Chavan, stating she wanted to adopt a daughter and had paid him ?6 lakh. However, Dr. Chavan told police she was informed the girl was Karan’s sister’s child and that the mother was unable to care for her.
The child was traced to Panvel and safely rescued. Further investigation is underway.