Srinivasapur (Kolar): Police have arrested five persons, including the parents of a six-day-old boy, for allegedly selling the newborn. Acting on information about the illegal transaction, officers traced the accused within 12 hours and rescued the baby.According to Srinivasapur circle inspector Shankarachar, the main accused — Neetha, 30, and Raghavendra, 27 — were living together, and Neetha gave birth to the baby boy on Jan 31. As she already had two children, a boy and a girl, she decided to sell the newborn and informed Raghavendra, who agreed to the plan.
A man identified as Narayanaswamy offered to find them a prospective buyer. He contacted Manjula and her husband Balakrishna, from Chintamani, and brought them to Srinivasapur to see the baby. The couple agreed to take the child and paid Rs 38,000 towards hospital expenses and Rs 80,000 in cash to Neetha and Raghavendra, promising to pay the remaining amount later.The inspector said both parties prepared a letter of adoption, which they signed to show consent for the process. The buyer couple then took the baby to Chintamani on Saturday evening. Around midnight, Srinivasapur police received information about the deal and immediately formed a team, which rushed to Chintamani. Manjula and Balakrishna were apprehended and taken to the police station along with the infant.Soon after, Neetha and Raghavendra were also arrested, and all four, along with middleman Narayanaswamy, allegedly confessed to the offence.Police said Neetha was earlier married to one Santosh and has a son from that marriage. After Santosh left her, she began working at a private company in Kolar, where she met Raghavendra, a driver employed with the same firm. The two entered a live-in relationship and had a daughter four years ago.All five accused have been remanded in judicial custody. The rescued baby will remain under the care of the child welfare department until further legal procedures are completed.
