Kolkata: After arresting a couple on charges of selling a child from the Shalimar station last month, the CID picked up a third person for his alleged involvement in the racket. The arrested individual has been identified as Saurav Adhikari, who is presently employed with a nursing home.
Although Adhikari is originally from Hanskhali in Nadia, he was residing in a rented house in Thakurpukur, the area from where the gang was operating.
In Nov, CID arrested Manik Haldar and his wife Mukul outside Shalimar station on charges of selling a child. During interrogation, cops learned that Manik, the mastermind of the trafficking racket, used to buy newborns from Patna and Gaya and sell them in Kolkata. They also claimed that several nursing homes and IVF centres are involved in this racket.
Saurav, claimed cops, met Manik there about two years ago. He assisted Manik in various ways, including finding clients willing to buy babies and arranging for surrogate mothers. "We have taken Saurav into our custody. We have also taken the arrested couple into our custody for four days. We will cross-question the accused for leads," said an officer at Bhawani Bhawan.
The investigation revealed that newborns were also sold in Santragachi and Sonarpur. Additionally, Manik sold children in various parts of the country, including Delhi and Hyderabad.
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