Accused’s adoption request was earlier rejected by CWC

Thiruvananthapuram: The woman who is now facing legal action in the case related to the alleged sale of a newborn baby had been divorced twice because she could not give birth to a baby, police investigation has revealed. She had even approached the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) a few years ago to adopt a child; however, it did not become a reality as the CWC officers reportedly rejected her request as she did not own a property in her name.

She also failed to meet other criteria put forward by CWC to adopt a child.

Lali (33), of Nedumcaud near Karamana, is now facing charges in a case registered for purchasing the baby under sections 75, 80 and 81 of Juvenile Justice Act.

“Lali was first married some 12 years ago, and her first husband legally divorced her after she failed to give birth to a baby. Later she married again and had conceived twice. However, she suffered miscarriages. Later, her second husband also divorced her and she was leading an isolated life after that. Lali was working as a house maid to earn a living and it was by accident that she met the biological mother of the newborn.

The woman used to sell clothes to earn her livelihood as her husband had left her after she got pregnant. When she met Lali, she was seven-months pregnant and was struggling to find the expense for the delivery.

The accused promised to take care of the expense of the delivery provided the biological mother should hand her the baby. Lali agreed to pay Rs 3 lakh to the biological mother and for that she sold gold ornaments and also took a loan from Kudumbashree.

As planned, the biological mother produced the identity card of Lali at Thycaud hospital to avoid any suspicion later,” police said.

They said Lali does not know more details of the biological mother, except her locality and name. The mobile number on which she used to contact her remains switched off.

“A team has been formed to identify the biological mother,” the police said.

Meanwhile, sociology experts said the woman was a victim of the social structure. “In fact, the woman, who bought the baby, is the victim of an odd social structure that considers infertile women as unpleasant creatures. A patriarchal society narrows down women as just wombs and if she fails to deliver a baby she is downplayed. The woman chose to adopt a baby to overcome this social stigma and she failed in it multiple times. Finally, she got a baby through a way which is fraudulent as per the existing social system. After all, biological motherhood is glorified in society when we have ample evidence to prove that sociological relations are much more blissful than blood relations. The woman here has not committed any crime but our existing legal system failed to have a broader perspective to analyse the human angle in it,” said Antony Palackal, professor at the sociology department of Kerala University.

Meanwhile, police have also ruled out the reports that Lali had bought a baby five years ago from a woman from Thycaud hospital.

.