Police in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday arrested a man for allegedly selling his child for Rs 1 lakh.
Police also arrested the man who bought the baby, and two others, including the wife of the broker.
Sutheesh Kumar, a construction worker living in extreme poverty had allegedly sold his five-month old baby to a childless couple on December 31, 2015 after they lured him by offering Rs one lakh through a broker.
According to the police, Sutheesh agreed to the offer though his wife was unwilling.
Reportedly, the couple did not take care of the baby properly and it started crying, following which neighbours informed police and Child Helpline officials.
Subsequently, the All-Women police station personnel arrested Sutheesh.
Police are still on the lookout for the broker, who is absconding.
This is not the first instance of parents selling their kids for money.
In April 2015, it was reported that a tribal man allegedly sold his 2-month-old baby boy to a woman for Rs 700 in Malkangiri district of Odisha, as he was unable to purchase medicines for his sick wife.