Chamarajanagara: In a shocking incident, a father sold his baby for Rs. 50,000 in the District. According to sources, the father, against the mother’s wishes, sold his 25-day-old baby to a Bengaluru-based couple as he could not afford the family’s rising medical expenses and loan repayments.
The accused, identified as Basappa (35), is a hotel worker living on Court Road here and has a 7-year-old son. Another baby boy was born in the second delivery 25 days ago. Lately, it has come to light that the child was sold to a person in Galipura village for Rs.50,000 six days ago.
It is said that Basappa’s wife Nagaveni is suffering from cardiac ailments. The accused is an alcoholic who quarrelled with his wife to get her to agree to sell the baby. Whenever Nagaveni resisted selling the child, she was tortured by Basappa who would leave her and go out of the house.
Speaking to mediapersons, Nagaveni said that she is an orphan and that she is worried about her first son being an orphan if her spouse estranges her. She reluctantly agreed to sell the baby in light of her son’s future. She said that soon after delivery, a person took a photo of the baby on his mobile. A week back the same person called the couple to a house in Galipura and gave the baby to another couple. He gave Rs. 50,000 and took signatures on blank papers. After selling the baby, Nagaveni cried daily but did not tell the issue with anyone.
“I was assaulted for asking my husband to return the child,” she said. She went to a hospital when she became ill, cried, and said that she had been told not to raise the child’s issue.
The transgender research student Deepa Buddhe who visiting the village was informed by Nagavenis relative that the child was sold. Immediately Deepa Buddhe alerted the Chamarajanagara District Children Protection Unit.
The Children Protection Officer Kumar filed a complaint with the police. Police registered a case and launched a search for the child.
Speaking to NewsKarnataka Kumar said, “We are searching for the person who mediated to sell the child”. He said Nagaveni and her son have been given shelter at the remand home.
