Month-old baby sold for Rs 50,000 , 4 held

HYDERABAD: Four persons, including two women, were arrested by

Punjagutta

police for selling a month-old baby girl for Rs 50,000.

The accused are Bharath Kumar, 30, of

Borabanda

, his wife

T Lakshmi

, 26, L Balaji, 50, of Hayathanagar and his sister-in-law Laxmi, 35. Police said the girl’s parents — Sujatha and Bhajan — Hayathnagar residents, wanted to give away the baby as it was their third girl child. “The couple approached

Balaji

as they wanted to give the child freely to any needy parent. But, Balaji along with Laxmi sold the child to Bharath and Lakshmi,” said Punjagutta inspector S Ravindar.

Bharath and Lakshmi, who work at a fertility centre, made a deal with another customer in

Miyapur

for Rs 70,000. “They were talking to the customer over phone at Ameerpet jn when a hawker heard them. He followed them to Miyapur. The duo offered him some money. But, he brought them to Punjagutta police station,” said Ravindar.

A case under Section 81 of Juvenile Justice Act was registered against the accused.