Toddler girl ‘sold for Rs 2,000’ on notary agreement claiming adoption, ‘made to beg’ in Pune; 15 booked

Advocate Shubham Lokhande, who approached the police, said the toddler is the sixth daughter of her parents and they sold her because they were unable to look after her.

The Pune city police have arrested a couple belonging to a nomadic tribe for allegedly “buying” a toddler from their relative and then making her beg. According to the police, the girl was under two years of age when she was allegedly sold for Rs 2,000 and she is now four years old.

The police registered a first information report (FIR) at the Yerwada police station Wednesday based on the complaint by advocate Shubham Lokhande. They booked the arrested couple, the girl’s parents and 11 others, including the “panch” of their community, under sections 363A, 370 (human trafficking), 34 of Indian Penal Code, and provisions of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and Maharashtra Prevention of Begging Rules.

When contacted, advocate Lokhande said he received information about the toddler from his friend Sudam Nimbalkar. “Initially, I found it hard to believe that a little girl was sold by her parents for just Rs 2,000. After conducting inquiries, I learned the girl is the sixth daughter of her parents. They were unable to look after her. Hence, they gave her to a married couple just for Rs 2,000,” said Lokhande.

The lawyer further said following “consent” from the “panch” of their community, the nomadic couple took the girl’s custody just by making a “notary” agreement, saying they were adopting her.

“One cannot adopt a child in such a manner. There is a legal process to be followed. Also, it was known that the girl was forced to beg. So we shared the information with Joint Commissioner of Police Sandip Karnik. Soon, the police initiated action and rescued the girl. An FIR has been lodged,” said Lokhande.

Senior police inspector Balkrishna Kadam said, “The couple arrested in this case and the girl’s parents know each other very well. While taking the girl from her parents, they prepared a notary document on Rs 500 stamp paper, which has been recovered. It does not mention any amount. It is being investigated whether the girl was forced into begging. Further probe is on.”