Viral clip exposes 30-yr baby selling racket in Namakkal

An audio clip of a retired government hospital nurse striking a deal with a potential buyer brought to the fore a baby selling racket that went undetected for the last 30 years. The Namakkal police on Thursday arrested the couple who masterminded the business. Interestingly, Amuthavalli, the main accused, also issued online birth certificates for Rs 70,000. Further investigations are on to ascertain if there is a bigger network at play.

The inputs Amuthavalli’s husband Ravichandran, 55, worked as an office assistant in Rasipuram City Co-Operative Bank and was her accomplice. After preliminary inquiries, police found that the duo recently mediated as brokers to sell three babies to a childless couple in Erode and Salem districts.

In the audio clip, Amuthavalli claims that the baby is priced as per gender, colour and health. “A male baby with dark complexion costs Rs 3.5 lakh and above, while a fairer one costs Rs 4 lakh and above. A girl is sold for Rs 2 to 3 lakh,” she claims. She issued online birth certificates through Rasipuram Taluk Office for Rs 70,000. “Once the birth certificate is ready in 30 days, you can even take the baby abroad,” she says in the audio.

Based on a complaint by Namakkal district Public Health Services Deputy Director Ramesh Kumar, Rasipuram police registered a case and arrested the couple. Inquiries led by Superintendent of Police Arularasu revealed that Amuthavalli had brokered deals with economically weak families to sell their babies. Police have confirmed a few incidents, wherein she bought the babies and sold them to childless couples. They suspect she sold several babies by following a similar modus operandi.

“She bought two girls for Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh each from an ambulance driver in Kollimalai and sold it to a woman from Erode district for several lakhs of rupees three months ago. In another incident, she sold a baby of a relative from Annadanapatty in Salem district to someone from Mettur,” said a cop privy to the investigation.

Police will also interroagte Rasipuram Taluk officials to ascertain their links with Amuthavalli in issuing birth certificates for babies being sold illegally. “All the certificates issued recently will be scrutinised,” an officer said.