Couple arrested for forged birth certificate of 7-month-old child in West Bengal's Andal
Times of India | 15 March 2025
Photo credit: AI DURGAPUR: A couple who visited the Block Development Officer (BDO) in Andal to obtain a birth certificate for their child was arrested after failing to explain a seven-month delay and submitting forged documents.
Following an investigation, the couple was arrested and presented before the Durgapur court on Friday, where they were remanded to three days of police custody. During questioning, they admitted that they were not the child's biological parents.
According to polic, the couple met BDO Debanjan Dutta on Thursday, presenting a seven-month-old male infant. Their request for a birth certificate raised suspicions of fraudulent registration. They submitted fake documents, including a false court affidavit. Upon detecting discrepancies, the BDO filed a complaint at Andal police station.
A case was registered under Sections 336, 337, 340, and 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, leading to their arrest.
During interrogation, the couple confessed that they were not the child's biological parents, raising concerns about the infant’s origins. Verification confirmed that their documents, including a falsified court affidavit claiming a home birth, were forged.
Authorities are now investigating the child's background and searching for the biological parents. "We are looking into how the couple obtained the baby and are actively investigating possible links to child trafficking," police officials stated.
The arrested individuals were identified as Kishor Bala and his wife, Parna Bala Adhikary, from Milan Nagar West, Jhal Para, Bagula, Hanshkhali in Nadia district. The child remains in protective custody. The Durgapur court ordered three days of police remand following their appearance on Friday.