Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (TP)
Udupi, June 22: A doctor, a couple and a man have been arrested in Udupi in connection with an alleged illegal infant adoption and child trafficking case involving a one-month-old baby girl, police said.
The case came to light on June 19 after the Child Development Project Office (CDPO), Brahmavar, informed the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) that a couple from Nejaru, Santhekatte, was allegedly raising a one-month-old baby girl without following any legal adoption procedures.
Acting on the information, officials from the District Child Protection Unit, along with the Protection Officer (Non-Institutional Care) and a supervisor from the Brahmavar CDPO, visited the couple’s residence at Subramanya Nagar, Santhekatte.
During the inspection, the couple Prakash and Poornima, the infant identified as Sreenika Prakash, and Poornima’s sister Lakshmi were present. Police said the couple gave suspicious and inconsistent statements during questioning.
Further investigation revealed that Prakash and Poornima had been married for 11 years and had no children. They had reportedly been undergoing fertility treatment at Kamat Nursing Home, Udupi.
Police alleged that during this period, Lakshmi came to know through a friend that a newborn baby was available at the hospital. The couple then approached Dr K Surendra Kamath requesting that the infant be handed over to them.
According to the complaint, the doctor allegedly agreed to the request and handed over the one-month-old baby girl to the couple. It is further alleged that a birth certificate was subsequently arranged in the child’s name, listing the couple as the parents. During questioning, the couple reportedly told investigators that they did not know the biological parents of the child and had no information regarding the infant’s origin.
Police have alleged that the accused acted with common intention for unlawful gain and conspired to create forged birth records and fabricated parental documents to facilitate the illegal transfer and sale of the infant.
Based on the complaint, a case has been registered at the Udupi Women’s police station.
The arrested accused have been identified as Dr K Surendra Kamath (76), a resident of Bannanje, Udupi and a doctor at Kamat Nursing Home, Udupi, and S Prakash (50), a resident of Rajeev Nagar, Nejaru Santhekatte, Mooduthonse village, Udupi.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Sampath (22), son of Srinivasa Sooda of Karkala, and Suprithi (22), daughter of late Suresh, a resident of Kedinje Post, Nandalike, Karkala, for allegedly handing over the child. Both accused have been taken into custody and will be produced before the competent court.
The investigation is in progress.