Delhi Hospital Owner Arrested in Baby Trafficking Racket; 7 Children Rescued
An interstate child-trafficking racket busted last week has revealed that a Delhi doctor allegedly duped couples seeking fertility treatment with false claims of IVF procedures, police sources said. Dr. Viveki, owner of Hira Hospital in Rohini, is among 15 people arrested, while seven children have been rescued so far.
On Monday, Delhi Police rescued a one-month-old infant from Rishikesh. A 32-year-old woman, from whom the child was recovered, claimed she was told the baby was her own through IVF. However, investigators found that the infant had been purchased from other parents for as little as Rs 5,000. The woman has been apprehended, and police are verifying her claims.
According to sources, the woman had been married for 12 years and was unable to conceive as her husband is paralysed. A relative referred her to Dr. Viveki, who was described as an “expert” in infertility treatment. The woman told police that Dr. Viveki said she could have a child through IVF and that the hospital would arrange for a donor to carry the pregnancy. Over nine months, the couple visited the hospital, and the husband’s semen sample was taken. On June 4, they were handed a child and made to sign papers stating the child was born via IVF. Police are investigating whether the papers were forged.
Among those arrested are Mukesh (37), a truck driver, and his wife Reema Pal from Gwalior, who allegedly purchased two newborns after failing to have children. Prathiba, an intermediary, was also arrested. Another couple, Sunny Arora and Ritu Arora from Panipat, allegedly bought a baby boy for Rs 6 lakh.
The alleged mastermind, Sayabhai Ghamar alias Kalia, has also been arrested. Police said Kalia initially worked with a man known as ‘Sardar’, whom he met outside a temple where newborns were allegedly sold. Kalia was paid Rs 5,000 for his role. Others arrested include Jyoti alias Kamlesh, Shalu, Lalit, Vipin, Omwati, and Sarika.
Police revealed that the gang referred to babies as “files” and all payments were made in cash. Newborns were brought from outside Delhi, often from Pali in Rajasthan. Vipin, along with Jyoti or Shalu, would travel to Pali, hand over money to Kalia, collect the child, and drive back to Delhi posing as a family to avoid suspicion. The babies were then kept at Hira Hospital before being delivered to buyers or collected by them from the hospital.
Dr. Viveki’s hospital has been shut down following the investigation.
