MP infant death: Couple booked for abandoning baby

Armed with a DNA report,the Gwalior police have booked Laxmi and her husband Keshav under Section 317 (Exposure and abandonment of child under 12 years,by parents or per having care of it) of the IPC.

On June 21,Laxmi gave birth to a baby at a private clinic where she had been admitted the previous night. Dr Priti Saraf,who runs the private clinic in the town,has been booked for abetment. The infant developed some complications and was taken to Kamla Raja government hospital where the couple disowned her. They accused the hospital of swapping their male baby and a few days later produced a discharge certificate from the clinic that said the infant was a male. The hospital insisted a baby girl had been admitted but the couple did not budge forcing the administration to go for DNA test.

The baby,meanwhile,continued to be critical but the parents refused to take care of her with Laxmi refusing to feed her.

Investigating Officer Anil Rai said arrests would follow detailed statements of the couple,doctors and the staff of the private clinic.