A sessions court in Mumbai on Saturday rejected the second successive bail plea of a 54-year-old woman who was allegedly caught red-handed in September 2023 while attempting to sell a newborn baby for Rs 5 lakh. The court held that the gravity of human trafficking charges and the accused's direct involvement outweighed her plea for parity with co-accused individuals who had already been granted relief by the Bombay High Court.
Case Background
The case originated in September 2023 when the Trombay police received a tip-off regarding a child sale in Mankhurd. During a carefully planned trap operation involving panch witnesses and a decoy, Sairabano Shaikh was arrested along with another woman. Police alleged that Shaikh was caught in the act of handing over the infant in exchange for a bag of cash. Subsequent interrogations revealed a commercial syndicate where the child was to be sold, with Shaikh expecting a personal share of Rs 1.5 lakh from the transaction.
Court's Reasoning
The court observed that the accused played a direct and active role in the illegal sale of a human life. The judge noted that human trafficking, especially involving infants, is a grave offense that undermines societal values and the legal framework. The plea for parity with co-accused who had been granted bail by the High Court was rejected, as the court found that Shaikh's involvement was more direct and substantial.
This was the second successive bail plea filed by Shaikh, both of which have been dismissed. The court emphasized that the nature of the crime and the evidence against her did not warrant any leniency at this stage. The case continues to be investigated, with authorities looking into the broader syndicate involved in the illegal trade of children.
