In Jalandhar a serious case has come forward involving alleged sale of an infant who is just 16 days old, by her mother’s ex-husband.
The matter is now under police investigation after a complaint was filed with Jalandhar Police Commissioner who has ordered SHO of Rama Mandi to look into the case.
Aaccording to the complaint given by Shivani who was earlier married to a man named Shiva, they were married around 12 years ago and had two children from that marriage following which due to domestic disputes they divorced through a panchayat settlement about four years ago.
After the divorce both moved on with their lives and remarried separately.
Shivani later married Malvinder who is a photographer and also her former classmate.
She stated that about three months before the incident she started living separately in a rented room after a dispute with her current husband and during this period she was pregnant.
She said that her ex-husband Shiva began visiting her again and would come with their children and assured her support during her pregnancy and he also helped arrange her delivery at Civil Hospital in Jalandhar. On May 21 she gave birth to a baby girl through normal delivery and she said that her ex-husband came to the hospital along with his second wife and another young woman and she adds that the second wife breastfed the newborn and spent time with the family at that point.
After the delivery Shivani returned home with her newborn and said that on May 25 her ex-husband told her that the baby needed vaccination and according to her statement a young woman was sent to her room under pretext of taking the child for vaccination. Later Shivani stepped away briefly and when she returned the woman and the newborn were gone.
Four days after the baby went missing Shivani received a phone call from an unknown woman who claimed that she had the baby but said she could not take care of the child and asked Shivani to return the money and take the baby back.
Shivani said that when she tried to record the call the woman disconnected and later switched off her phone and the number has remained unreachable since then. The caller reportedly said she was from Amritsar.
Shivani then contacted her ex-husband to ask about the child and she stated that his second wife answered the call and told her that the baby had died and was already buried however Shivani said that when she spoke to neighbours she learned that the child had not died but had allegedly been sold.
Shivani also alleged that her ex-husband sold the baby for ₹5 lakh to a woman in Amritsar and she further stated that when the baby kept crying the woman told that she could not manage the infant and asked him to take the baby back and return the money.
Shivani said that during this time her ex-husband posted an Instagram story showing stacks of cash and said that the post was deleted immediately after she saw it and she also alleged that money received from the sale was later used to buy items such as an LED TV, an air cooler and other household goods.
She further stated that when she questioned him about the baby he told her that the child had died and been buried. Shivani also alleged that he threatened her saying he had purchased a pistol and warned her of consequences if she approached police.
According to Shivani she was initially afraid to inform her current husband and mother-in-law about the situation but she later on May 29 she informed them and then approached police. She also mentioned that her mother-in-law had not seen the baby since birth.
Police officials have now taken up the complaint and SHO of Rama Mandi has been directed to investigate all aspects of the case including how the baby went missing, the alleged sale and the involvement of all persons mentioned in the complaint and the matter is currently under investigation.
