Following the bust of a child-selling racket allegedly operating across three states, Mumbai police have revealed that a majority of the couples involved were childless and led to believe that legal procedures were followed. Fortunately, there’s no evidence indicating that any of the children were exploited for activities like begging.

Out of the 14 children suspected to be sold from Maharashtra, three were sold to childless couples within the state, while 11 were sold to couples in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Four of these children were rescued and handed over to the Bal Asha Trust in Mahalaxmi.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Enforcement) Ragasudha R stated that most demands came from childless couples in Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh. In one case, a five-month-old baby was rescued from a couple over 50 years old in Ratnagiri. The couple claims they were assured of a legal adoption process, raising questions about their awareness of the illegality of the transaction.

A tip-off received by Unit II of the Mumbai Crime Branch led to the exposure of the racket. It was revealed that Sheetal Vare from Govandi had sold a child to Dr. Sanjay Khandare (BHMS), who then sold the child to a couple in Ratnagiri for Rs 2 lakh through another agent.

Subsequent interrogations of Vare and other agents exposed 14 instances of child-selling over the past two years.

To date, 14 people have been arrested, primarily women employed at fertility centers in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, and Mumbai. These women targeted couples seeking children, promising a quicker process than legal adoption. Agents in Maharashtra would then locate women from impoverished backgrounds willing to part with their children for sums ranging from Rs 80,000 to Rs 4 lakh.

The courts have previously shown leniency towards couples accused of purchasing children, especially if they’ve been together for some time, often granting them custody in the best interest of the child’s well-being.