Vadodara: Crime branch arrested a couple for allegedly attempting to sell an eight-day-old infant in Mumbai in exchange for a commission of Rs 20,000, police said on Thursday.Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted the couple carrying the infant on National Highway 48 on Tuesday night. while they were travelling by bus to Mumbai. When questioned about the infant, they failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, prompting further interrogation.The couple, identified as Manoj Rawal and his wife Veena, admitted they were transporting the infant to Mumbai to hand him over to a man who claimed to be a doctor, police said. During questioning, Manoj told investigators that Veena’s brother, Sunil, had visited their residence in Patan on Jul 27 with the infant.Police said Sunil informed the couple that the baby had been handed over to him by an agent and was to be sold to a Mumbai resident for Rs 3 lakh. Under the alleged arrangement, the infant’s parents were to receive Rs 2 lakh, the agent was to be paid a commission of Rs 10,000 and Manoj and Veena were promised Rs 20,000 for delivering the infant.Police said Sunil had allegedly paid the couple Rs 5,000 in advance on Jul 28, after which they boarded a bus to Mumbai. Investigators also found that they had received a phone call from the alleged buyer, who enquired about their travel plans.An FIR has been registered against the couple and six others on charges of human trafficking, police added.“Manoj is a casual labourer and was promised money to transport the infant to Mumbai. We have arrested Manoj and Veena, while the search for the agents and the infant’s parents is underway. The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit will investigate the case further,” said Rahul Baraiya, a sub-inspector with Vadodara Crime Branch, who filed the complaint.
