The Delhi Police have dismantled a sprawling inter-state child trafficking syndicate, arresting 12 individuals, including the owner of a private hospital who allegedly facilitated illegal adoptions using forged medical records, officials confirmed on Thursday.
Five infants were rescued from locations in Delhi, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh during the operation, which began with a decoy operation near RK Ashram Metro Station in Paharganj on June 5.
Acting on specific intelligence, the Operations Unit apprehended three accused—Jyoti alias Kamlesh, Shalu, and Lalit—while they were attempting to sell a newborn boy, approximately four to five days old, to decoy customers. The infant was safely rescued, and Rs 20,000 paid as token money during the operation was recovered. An FIR was registered at Paharganj Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Juvenile Justice Act.
Further investigation uncovered an extensive network operating across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. Police revealed that the syndicate procured newborns through suppliers and intermediaries, selling them to childless couples for sums reaching lakhs of rupees.
A key arrest was that of Dr. Viveki, owner of Heera Multi Speciality Hospital in Begampur. Police alleged she sheltered trafficked infants at her hospital, identified prospective buyers among couples seeking fertility treatment, and facilitated illegal transfers using fabricated hospital and birth documents.
The syndicate operated through a structured chain of suppliers, mediators, transporters, facilitators, and buyers. Infants were sourced from different states, transported to Delhi, and handed over to buyers after forged records established false legal parentage.
During the investigation, police arrested Pratibha, a laboratory technician at the hospital, and Vipin, a driver who allegedly transported syndicate members and infants. A cash amount of Rs 2.92 lakh, intended for purchasing another newborn, was recovered from them. Omwati, a domestic worker from Gurugram, was also arrested for acting as a mediator.
Among those arrested were Mukesh and Reema Pal of Gwalior, who allegedly purchased two trafficked infants, and Sunny Arora, Ritu Arora, and Sarika of Panipat, accused of purchasing trafficked children. Saybabhai Ghamar alias Kalia was identified as a major supplier and was arrested in Gujarat on June 17 through technical surveillance.
Four additional infants were rescued—two from Panipat, Haryana, and two from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Including the newborn from Delhi, the total number of rescued infants stands at five.
Evidence suggests infants were purchased for Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh and sold for Rs 6 lakh to Rs 9 lakh. One infant was allegedly sold for about Rs 6 lakh, while two others were sold for around Rs 9 lakh each.
All five rescued children have been produced before the Child Welfare Committee, which has issued directions for their care, protection, and rehabilitation. Police have recovered the infants, Rs 20,000 used in the decoy operation, Rs 2.92 lakh meant for purchasing a newborn, and several hospital and birth-related documents currently under examination.
