Two doctors named in Bengal baby sale racket charge sheet

Nineteen persons named as accused. One of the sections slapped contains provisions for life imprisonment.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have named two doctors including a local BJP leader in the charge sheet in the sensational baby sale racket in Bengal unearthed last year. The charge sheet was submitted to additional chief judicial magistrate’s court in Basirhat (in North 24 Parganas district) on Saturday.

The racket was busted with the discovery of these babies in a medicine carton on November 21, 2016. (HT Photo)

Dilip Ghosh, who was a BJP leader in Salt Lake, is one of the doctors named in the document for his involvement. He was suspended from all party posts following his arrest. The other doctor is Tapan Biswas. Both are behind the bars.

One of the IPC sections slapped against the accused lays down punishment that can even lead to life imprisonment.

“We may file a supplementary charge sheet since investigation is still continuing. We have found out that the racket extended beyond Bengal with babies being sold outside the state. So ongoing investigations may lead to new findings,” said a senior CID officer.

Though 20 persons were arrested, evidence was found against 19 who were named as key accused. Twenty-six persons have been named as witnesses.

No evidence was found against Nityanand Biswas who was the owner of a nursing home near Parnasree in Behala in south Kolkata.

The doctors used to enjoy a commission of Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000 from each sale.

Read: How the gang of 13 CID sleuths busted the baby selling racket

Various sections of the IPC, Juvenile Justice Act and Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act were slapped against the accused.

The charge sheet was submitted on the 75th day.

The racket was busted by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on November 21, 2016. It operated primarily in the districts of North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Kolkata.

On November 21, CID rescued three babies kept in paper cartons used for carrying medicines. The investigations that followed busted the racket.

The modus operandi was quite innovative. Racketeers often targeted couples -- usually illiterate and poor -- who already have a child and is expecting another. The doctor simply informs the couple that the baby was stillborn or has died within a few minutes after birth due to ailments. If the parents are too shattered they would not be even handed over the body. In some cases bodies of other babies are handed over.