Six Arrested in Villivakkam for Illegal Sale of Two-Day-Old Baby Girl

Villivakkam police on Thursday arrested six people, including a doctor and a hospital administrator, for allegedly orchestrating the illegal sale of a two-day-old baby girl. The newborn has been placed under the care of the child welfare committee in Chennai.

The arrested individuals include the prospective adoptive parents Selvarasi, 30, and Gnanasekaran, 35, from Andhra Pradesh; Dhanam, 50, a neighbour; Aandal, 45, a private hospital nurse; Visalakshmi, 45, a hospital administrator; and Rajasekaran, 45, the managing director and doctor at a private hospital in Villivakkam.

According to the police, the biological mother, 23-year-old Pavithra, and her husband Ganesan, 28, a history-sheeter who is currently in prison in an unrelated case, entered into an informal arrangement with the Andhra Pradesh couple during the pregnancy. The couple, who had been trying to have a child for seven years, agreed to bear all pregnancy-related expenses in exchange for custody of the infant. Around Rs 9 lakh had reportedly been paid as part of the deal.

Investigators stated that Pavithra, while pregnant with her second child in December, initially approached Dhanam for financial assistance. Dhanam allegedly suggested handing over the baby to a childless couple for money and introduced her to Aandal, who had contacts with people seeking surrogacy and IVF services. Learning that Selvarasi and Gnanasekaran were looking for a surrogate mother, Aandal proposed they take custody of Pavithra's child instead.

Pavithra delivered the baby girl at the private hospital in Villivakkam on Tuesday. Following the birth, Visalakshmi and Rajasekaran allegedly manipulated hospital records to falsely record Selvarasi as the biological mother.

The arrangement came to light after alert neighbours noticed the newborn was missing from Pavithra's care and tipped off the authorities.

Police have registered cases under Sections 80 and 81 of the Juvenile Justice Act, as well as Sections 93 and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The mother was served a notice under Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and allowed to remain with the infant to breastfeed during the probe. Investigators noted that two more suspects could be arrested as the inquiry continues.