Police in India’s Ramanagara district, Karnataka, arrested a 40-year-old woman for selling her 30-day-old baby to pay off her husband’s debts, according to The Economic Times. The baby, sold for ₹150,000, was rescued by authorities and placed in a welfare home in Mandya.
The incident came to light after the woman’s husband filed a missing person report on December 7, two days after the baby disappeared. Suspecting his wife’s involvement, he approached the police for help.
Family Struggles with Debt
The couple, who have five children, faced mounting debts of over ₹300,000. The father told police that his wife had suggested selling their newborn to a childless couple to settle their financial burden, an idea he strongly opposed.
“I flatly refused and told her never to think like that,” the father recounted. He explained that he discovered his son was missing upon returning home on December 5.
“When I asked my wife, she said the baby had some health issues and had been taken to a doctor by a relative. I believed her, had dinner, and went to sleep,” he said. However, the next evening, the child was still missing. When the mother refused to provide contact details for the supposed doctor or relative, the husband became suspicious, leading to a confrontation during which he sustained a head injury.
Police Investigation and Rescue
Following the husband’s complaint, the police interrogated the woman. Initially, she claimed the baby was with a relative. However, under further questioning, she confessed to selling the infant to a single woman in Bengaluru.
“She misled us at first but later admitted to the sale,” an investigating officer stated.
Authorities quickly recovered the baby and arrested the mother, along with two accomplices involved in the transaction and the woman who purchased the child.
The infant is now in the care of a welfare home, while the case highlights the severe financial struggles faced by the family.
