Woman sells her child for Rs 1.7 lakh. And then...

Incident came to light after she demanded the child back

NT Correspondent

Dharwad: A 27-year-old woman named Prema Ganesh Aager and a few others who were involved in the sale of a baby have been booked by the Ankola police for child trafficking. The incident only came to light after Prema, who had sold her child for Rs 1.7 lakh demanded her back after a few days.

As per police, Prema gave birth to a girl child at the Civil Hospital Karwar on September 5, 2022. On account of financial constraints, she informed a nurse working in the hospital that she was willing to sell her child. Prema was discharged from hospital on September 12.

On September 15, near the Jai Hind Ground, Ankola, she is alleged to have received Rs 1 lakh in cash and Rs 70,000 by cheque and gave away her child to one Shridhar, from Bhatkal Taluk. A few days later, Prema demanded that Sridhar give her child back. The issue reached the Child Development Project Officer , Karwar, who filed a police complaint.

Prema ,the nurse and Shridhar were all booked under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and the Indian Penal Code. Fearing arrest, Shridhar approached the High Court for bail. His petition was heard by Justice Anil B Katti.

State objects

The High Court Gover nment P l e a d e r (HCGP) opposed the anticipatory bail plea of Shridhar. The HC noted, “Learned HCGP has appeared for the State and has orally objected for grant of anticipatory bail and contended that the petitioner is involved in a child trafficking case and the investigation is not yet completed.” The HC noted that all the allegations against Shridhar can be trashed in the trial.

“The allegation of the girl child of accused No.1 (Prema) given to this petitioner (Shridhar) for money as per the complaint averments is not free from the cloud of doubt. The same can be trashed during trial. The offence under Section 80 of the Act is not attracted since it is nobody’s case that the girl child of accused No.1 was given in adoption to this petitioner without following the prescribed procedure,” the HC noted, ruling in favour of the bail.

Further, the court said, “The offence under Section 81 of the Act relates to the sale and procurement of children for any purpose. The allegation of the sale of the girl child of accused No.1 to this petitioner or procurement for money is a matter of trial. The offences alleged against the petitioner are not punishable with life or death imprisonment. The apprehension of the prosecution can be met by imposing appropriate conditions.”

The HC allowed anticipatory bail for Shridhar on a personal bond and surety bond for Rs 50,000. He was also directed not to leave the jurisdiction of the trial court without prior permission.