Namakkal baby racket: CB-CID granted custody of accused

The CB-CID, which took over the probe, moved the court seeking custody of Amuthavalli, who is the alleged kingpin of the racket, ambulance driver Murugesan and broker Arulsamy for interrogation. It had sought seven days custody for questioning the trio.

The three persons were produced before judge Karunanidhi, who granted the CB-CID two days custody to quiz Amuthavalli and three days to question Murugesan and Arulsamy.

Subsequently, the CB-CID police took the three persons to a secret place for an interrogation. In all, eight persons have been arrested so far in connection with the baby selling racket.

Amuthavalli, a retired government hospital nurse, her husband Ravichandran, private hospital nurse Parveen and ambulance driver Murugesan were running the illegal trade over the last several years. They took the help of Leela, Hasina and Arulsamy in identifying clients and brokering deals.

The illegal racket was busted by Namakkal police after an audio clip of Amuthavalli interacting with a potential buyer went viral on social media. She claimed to be involved in the business for the last 30 years.

Meanwhile, Amuthavalli, Ravichandran, Parveen and brokers Leela and Haseena have moved the court in Namakkal seeking bail. Their bail plea is expected to be taken up for hearing on Wednesday.

The CB-CID sleuths led by DSP Krishnan, Inspectors Brindha and Saratha have inquired a total of nine persons, including Namakkal district Deputy Director of Public Health Services Ramesh Kumar, Child Welfare Officer Ranjitha Priya and three nurses from Kollimalai in connection with the case.

On Tuesday, the CB-CID personnel grilled nurses Rani, Ilayarani and Danalakshmi for about three hours suspecting their involvement as most of the babies sold by the gang belong to impoverished people from Kollimalai Hills.

Despite investigations picking up pace, the police have so far not traced any of the stolen babies.