Adoption racket: Cook suspended, goes missing

After learning about an adoption racket being run from an orphanage in Ulhasnagar, the social welfare department suspended the cook, Vijaya Sonawane, 48, on Tuesday.

After learning about an adoption racket being run from an orphanage in Ulhasnagar, the social welfare department suspended the cook, Vijaya Sonawane, 48, on Tuesday.

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However, she and her accomplice Ratna Ubale, who works at Mulund hospital and lives at Vithalwadi, are still absconding, the police said.

On Monday, a city tabloid published a story of how Sonawane, who works at the Shanti Bhuvan Orphanage for Disabled Children, allegedly sold a baby to two journalists posing as a childless couple for Rs2.3 lakh.

SG Khandagale, superintendent of the orphanage, said, “When we read about the racket in the newspapers, we immediately informed our head office. Sonawane was suspended on Tuesday and we have registered a complaint with the Hill Line Police station.”

Khandagale said Sonawane had come to work on Tuesday morning, but left saying she wanted to meet an advocate.

Shivajirao Rathod, deputy commissioner of police, Ulhasnagar, confirmed that a complaint had been made. “I have ordered my officers to lodge an FIR in the case and our three teams are working on this case,” he said.

“We have has submitted the video made by the journalists to the Ulhasnagar police,” said Sumitra Ashtekar, member, Child Welfare Committee.