Adoption racket busted,doctor among four held

The accused,identified as Pawan Sharma (38),Ranjeeta Bhasin (48),Shobha Gupta and Dr Atul Kumar were arrested from various parts of the city following investigations.

“The gang used to charge around Rs 1.8 lakh for a child,of which Rs 30,000 was given to the parents,” Ashok Chand,Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime),said.

The first to be arrested were Sharma and Bhasin from Shivaji Vihar,when the former came to hand over an eight-month-old boy. Their interrogation led to Gupta. Dr Kumar,who allegedly helped produce the fake documents,was arrested later.

“Sharma told us that two months ago,a man from West Bengal had given him the boy,whom he handed to Bhasin to sell off. He also told us that he had procured an infant girl from East Delhi for Rs 30,000,” DCP Chand said. Bhasin has been running two NGOs — Nav Roshini Chetna Mahilla Samiti and Nav Jyoti Anathalaya — in Raghubir Nagar from 1998. She told the police that 10 days ago,she had given an infant girl to Gupta. Gupta,who ran an NGO,Child Care,in Vashistha Park,was then apprehended from Dwarka. “She told us she was introduced by one Anupama Lal to a young woman who wanted a child. Gupta told her she could arrange for a baby girl for Rs 1.8 lakh,” said the police officer.

“The reasons given for the price was the completion of legal formalities. The money was paid and Gupta gave the girl to the woman. The girl has now been recovered,” Chand said.

Gupta then took the woman to a medical centre in Prashant Vihar,where Dr Kumar prepared the documents,Chand said. “Through the forged documents,Kumar showed the lady to be admitted at his medical centre on December 11 and discharged the next day after delivering the girl,” Chand said.The police said of the Rs 1.8 lakh they would get from the buyer,Sharma used to take Rs 25,000,Bhasin’s share was Rs 10,000,Gupta’s was Rs 75,000,Anupama Lal got Rs 20,000 and Dr Kumar was given Rs 20,000. Lal is yet to be apprehended.

Both the infants have been handed over to SOS Upvan Home in Safdarjung Enclave. The arrested were produced before a court here,which sent the doctor to 14 days’ judicial custody and other three to police remand till December 23 for further questioning.