Pune: Man sells baby to Kenya-based couple for Rs 1.5 lakh

KOLHAPUR: The Panchgani police are questioning a Kenya-based couple - hailing from Pune - for "adopting" a baby for Rs1.5 lakh, in connection

with a rape case.

The couple was summoned by the police as part of a probe into allegations of rape involving a businessman and the sale of the baby born as a result of

the sexual assault. The couple was originally from Bund Garden Road. Panchgani assistant police inspector Trupti Sonawane told TOI that the couple had not followed any legal procedure in the adoption of the baby. "This is serious, and we are following up," she said.

When the suspect revealed the address of the couple that bought the baby, a police team rushed to Pune. The suspect revealed that he got Rs 1.5 lakh

from the couple as he gave up the baby for adoption. API Trupti Sonawane said the suspect first contacted the couple through a website. The couple wanted to adopt a child and had put out an advertisement in a newspaper. Panchgani police arrived at the house of the couple just as they were getting ready to leave for Nairobi with the baby boy. The couple and baby were taken to Panchgani for further questioning.

A medical examination showed that the baby was healthy. The local child welfare committee will take a call on whether the baby should be handed

over to his biological mother, who has sought custody. Police officials say the couple could face action if it is established that they did not follow the procedure mandated by law for adoption. Meanwhile, the couple has been insisting that their purpose was only adoption, although they have no legal evidence. Police are exploring action against the website that facilitated the sale of the baby.

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Sonawane said a decision on legal action would be taken after the probe is completed. The man who sold the baby and is accused of raping his mother,

Rajesh Chaursiya, was arrested and charged under Sections 376 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of

Atrocities Act), 1989. The mother of the baby and her parents had brought the complaint to police. In their complaint, they said Chaursiya first befriended the brother of the woman and established a good rapport with the family. He told the woman he was a divorcee and promised to marry her to have sex with her. When she became pregnant, the woman insisted on marriage and Chaursiya kept avoiding the question. He suggested that she terminate her pregnancy, but the woman had the baby.

Sonawane said a decision on legal action would be taken after the probe is completed. The man who sold the baby and is accused of raping his mother,

Rajesh Chaursiya, was arrested and charged under Sections 376 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of

Atrocities Act), 1989.

The woman's family too insisted that Chaursiya get married. The woman told police that he had administered some drugs to her to terminate the

pregnancy, but they did not work.

When the baby was delivered, Chaursiya took it from the woman and told her that his sister's family would tend to it. The woman asked for the baby a

few days later, and was told that he had been sold. By this time, the woman also learned that Chaurasiya was married, and had lied to her about being a

divorcee. That is when she lodged a complaint with police.

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