Chennai: Kasimedu police arrested four women, including a 25-year-old mother, for selling a one-month-old baby boy to a woman from Erode for 3.80lakh. A special police team has been sent to Erode to trace and rescue the infant.The mother is Thilagavathi, 25, wife of Sahayaraj, a resident of Power Kuppam Second Block in Kasimedu. The other accused were K Pratheeba, 32, of YMCA Kuppam near Tondiarpet, M Vennila, 45, of Kasipuram near Kasimedu, and D Kausalya, 40, of New Washermenpet. The women used to visit temples together.Police said Thilagavathi delivered a baby boy in Dec at the RSRM Govt Maternity Hospital in Royapuram. She already has three children. Struggling to cope with financial difficulties and family problems, she decided to sell the newborn child when he was 10 days old.Investigations revealed that during a recent visit to Melmalaiyanur Angalamman Temple in Villupuram district, Pratheeba, Vennila, and Kausalya met a woman from Erode who expressed her desire to adopt a child. The three women later approached Thilagavathi and arranged the sale.In Dec, the woman from Erode came to Kasimedu, where the baby was handed over to her for 3.80 lakh. Of the total amount, Thilagavathi received 3 lakh, while Pratheeba, Vennila, and Kausalya shared the remaining 80,000 among themselves.The illegal transaction came to light after Thilagavathi’s relatives questioned her about the whereabouts of the newborn. The information reached the city intelligence unit, which alerted Kasimedu police. Following this, the four women were secured and questioned.Inspector T Vasanth Raja of Kasimedu police said the women were produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) on Tuesday for further inquiry. Police registered a case under relevant sections and coordinated with authorities in Erode to locate and rescue the baby.Sources said Thilagavathi had two petty cases against her at the Kasimedu police station. Investigation is underway to identify the woman who purchased the infant and to determine whether the case is linked to a larger illegal child adoption network.
