Mother of newborn and three others arrested for ‘illegally giving’ baby to childless couple

Khan and Sayeed found a childless couple in Hyderabad who were willing to adopt a child... once the newborn's condition improved, the child was handed over to them, said an officer

Four persons, including a mother of a six-month-old, were arrested after the newborn was illegally handed over to a childless couple in Hyderabad, police said.

Cops are investigating if the child’s mother – identified as Shamima Shah – and her accomplices got any financial benefits.

Shah, who is already a mother to five other children, however, told police her husband had married another woman. He was not supporting them financially due to which she decided to give away her sixth child.

“We are checking if the four got any monetary benefits. But it appears Shah was not in a position to take care of a child and a childless couple wanted a baby. So, the newborn was handed over to them without following due legal procedure,” said an officer.

Shah gave birth to her sixth child at Rajawadi Hospital in Mumbai on September 17, 2022.

“Soon after, the woman informed her husband, Abdul Khalid Ali Shah. They got married in 2001 but Abdul married another woman in 2006. He did not reciprocate in a positive way after hearing Shah gave birth to a girl,” said an officer. “Abdul was in Delhi but he did not come to visit her,” he added.

As the newborn was critically ill and admitted to the ICU, Shah shared her ordeal with her friend Shabana Sheikh. Her friend allegedly contacted two others, identified as Mehjabeen Ayub Khan and Zubeda Rafiq Sayeed.

“Khan and Sayeed found a childless couple in Hyderabad who were willing to adopt a child. Soon after, the four then took the newborn to Hyderabad where she was again admitted to a hospital. Once the newborn’s condition improved, the child was handed over to the couple,” the officer explained.

In March, Abdul returned to Mumbai after which he started looking for the child. He then filed a complaint with the Child Welfare Committee. He raised a suspicion the child was sold.

The CWC directed the police to investigate the matter.

A case was registered under sections 317 (exposure and abandonment of child under twelve years, by parent or person having care of it) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

“We managed to trace all the accused involved in the case after which a team was sent to Hyderabad and the child was brought to Mumbai,” said an officer.

The four were arrested on Thursday and were subsequently released on bail.