Chennai: Father Arrested for Selling Newborn Son for Rs 2 Lakh; Police on Hunt for Child and Buyers

Chennai: A 34-year-old man was arrested for allegedly selling his four-day-old son to a couple for Rs 2 lakh. The arrest came after the child's mother, Shyamala, grew suspicious of her husband's claims that the baby was still receiving treatment at the hospital. The police are currently conducting a search to locate the infant and the couple who purchased the child.

The accused, identified as Sathya Das, works as an auto-rickshaw driver. According to the Vyasarpadi police, Shyamala delivered a baby boy on August 6 at a government maternity hospital in Royapuram. On August 10, while Shyamala was asleep, Sathya took the newborn and handed him over to a mediator in exchange for money.

Sathya had reportedly accepted a Rs 25,000 advance when Shyamala was seven months pregnant. After handing over the baby, he collected the remaining amount.

When questioned by his wife, Sathya initially claimed that the child was undergoing medical checkups. However, Shyamala's suspicions deepened when they returned home and Sathya continued to insist that the baby was still in the hospital. She eventually filed a complaint with the police.

During the investigation, Sathya confessed to selling the baby due to financial difficulties, as he struggled to provide for a third child. He revealed that a friend had acted as a mediator and facilitated the transaction with a couple from Ennore. The police are now focused on tracking down the child and those involved in the illegal sale.