Nalasopara: A newborn was allegedly sold for Rs 40,000 a day after a 17-year-old girl gave birth at a private hospital in Nalasopara, exposing a suspected case of illegal premature delivery and child trafficking. Tulinj police have registered a case against the 22-year-old man accused of raping the minor, her mother, a woman neighbour, the doctor who allegedly conducted the delivery and the couple who allegedly bought the baby.The minor, a resident of Nalasopara East, was in a relationship with the 22-year-old man who lives in the same locality. She became pregnant, and after her mother learnt about it, she was admitted to Surya Hospital in Santosh Bhuvan, Nalasopara East, on Sunday.Police said Dr Shaheen Shaikh allegedly conducted an illegal premature delivery. The newborn was allegedly sold to a couple from Nalasopara for Rs 40,000 the following day. The girl was discharged from the hospital and returned home.On Monday, she complained of abdominal pain and was taken to Tulinj Hospital, run by the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation, for treatment. The doctors’ examination revealed she had recently delivered a baby. The hospital authorities informed Tulinj police on Monday night, following which an investigation was launched.Police inspector Marathe of Tulinj police station said a case had been registered against the man accused of raping the minor, her mother, their woman neighbour and the couple who allegedly purchased the newborn. The accused man has been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and remanded in police custody till Saturday.Senior Inspector Vijay Jadhav of Tulinj police station said the couple who allegedly bought the baby had been childless for 14 years.Following the incident, the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation sealed Surya Hospital. Nilesh Deshmukh, chairman of the civic body’s health department, said strict action would be taken against those involved in conducting illegal deliveries.
