The police in Panniyankara, Kozhikode took the father of a 21-day-old baby boy into custody on Thursday for allegedly ‘selling off’ the infant to another family.
Sub-Inspector Amarudheen told The News Minute that the parents were taken into custody for questioning on Thursday afternoon. The incident came to light when the police got a tip-off that the new-born was missing from the house.
While Midhun, the baby’s father is still in police custody, the police let off the mother after primary questioning. The couple have three other children – all very young – apart from the new-born.
According to the police, the mother handed over the baby to another family the day she gave birth, maintaining that she was unable to look after the child. The "deal" was finalized a day before the delivery, police said.
“Apart from financial difficulties, the couple were not on good terms and have been living separately for a few months now. The woman gave away the baby without the knowledge of her husband. She is currently living with her parents, who were involved in the plan,” the Sub-Inspector said.
The mother confessed to the police that they had handed over the baby to another family, living a few kilometres away from their house. The police recovered the baby and produced him before the Child Welfare Committee, who will send the baby to a state-run home.
The police has registered a case against the parents under various provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.
However, it is yet to be confirmed whether any financial transaction was involved in the handing over of the infant.