Jharkhand baby-selling racket: Maneka Gandhi directs states to take steps
A day after authorities rescued the fourth baby sold by a Sister and a staff member at a Missionaries of Charity shelter home in Jharkhand, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has directed all states to inspect such child care institutions (CCI) run by the organization. All CCIs have to be linked to the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) within a month, she said.
Racketeers were selling babies at over Rs. 1L
A UP-based couple, who had bought one of the four kids, had brought the case to light. An FIR was lodged against Nirmal Hriday, the Ranchi-based shelter home, earlier this month. Sister Konsalia and staff member Anima Indwar, who had sold the baby, were arrested on July 4-5. According to reports, they charged up to Rs. 1.2L per baby.
Clip of nun 'confessing' went viral
After her arrest, a clip of a 'confession' by Sister Koncilia was leaked, where she is purportedly heard saying she sold three babies and gave one away to a woman in Simdega for free. "I have sold two more babies. I don't know where they are now," she says. She adds she hadn't informed the shelter head, Sister Meridian, about the sale.
The viral clip
Four babies rescued from four different places
Police rescued one baby from Kokar. Another was found in Morabadi, and the third in Simdega. The fourth was recovered yesterday from a couple in Palamu district. Police have refused to reveal more details. "We are getting many leads but we cannot divulge them as of now. We are working on verifying them," said SSP Anish Gupta.
Five organizations linked to Missionaries received foreign-funds worth Rs. 927cr
Multiple agencies have been roped in to probe the case, including police and Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Officials believe the busted racket is part of a larger one; District Social Welfare Officer Kanchan Singh claimed 58 children born at Nirmal Hriday are untraceable. Jharkhand Police spokesperson RK Mallick confirmed that five organizations associated to the Missionaries have suspiciously received Rs. 927cr in foreign-funds during 2006-2018.
Police action draws criticism from several quarters
This has led to criticism of police action against the Missionaries, including from West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, former Jharkhand CM Babulal Marandi and the Roman Catholic Church. If one sister is found indulging in criminal activities, the entire organization shouldn't be painted as "inhuman," said Theodore Mascarenhas, General Secretary, Catholic Bishop Conference of India. He also alleged Sister Konsalia's confession had been taken "under pressure."
Adoptive couples have been allowed to keep babies, but conditionally
Meanwhile, authorities have allowed the adoptive couples to keep the babies for two months, but conditionally: they have to produce them to the CWC every week. "The decision has been taken considering the welfare of the children," said CWC member Srikant Kumar. The Missionaries has earlier said it was "looking into the charges with all seriousness and would take every necessary action."
