The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Budhia’s mother scoffs at adoption claim

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Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007
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Budhia’s mother scoffs at adoption claim

Staff Reporter

Says she only allowed her son to stay with Biranchi Das

Biranchi Das accused of misappropriating money received as gift to the child
State Council for Child Welfare terms Das’s adoption claim as illegal

BHUBANESWAR: Child marathon runner Budhia Singh’s mother Sukanti Singh says that she has never given her son in adoption to coach Biranchi Das, who is accused of torturing the little one.

The Child Welfare Committee, Khurda district, a quasi judiciary body that released the counselling proceedings of Budhia and his mother, said:

“She allowed her son Budhia to stay with Biranchi Das in his Judo Association Centre. But, she has never given her son in adoption to Mr. Biranchi.”

The erstwhile coach of Budhia earlier claimed that he had legally adopted the child in a local court.

Rapprochement plans

After his release on bail in the alleged torture case, Mr. Biranchi Das said he would go to the child and his family for rapprochement.

The issue might snowball into a major controversy as Mr. Biranchi Das’s wife was reportedly determined to get the boy back.

Ms. Sukanti Singh further told the CWC that Mr. Biranchi Das, who received some Rs. 1.5 crores as gifts for the child, misappropriated the money.

Meanwhile, Sanjukta Mohanty, Secretary of the Orissa State Council for Child Welfare, said:

“The council is the nodal agency of any adoption in the State. But, Mr. Biranchi Das never approached us. Rather, on our own, we summoned him on many occasions in the past. But, he never turned up.” She termed Mr. Biranchi’s claim as illegal. “Parents, who are to adopt a child, will have to undergo medical tests.

The biological parents, too, are counselled before any adoption takes place. But, nothing of that sort has happened in this case,” Ms. Mohanty said.

Exploitation

The CWC, however, found that both Budhia’s mother and the former coach were exploiting the child for money and fame.

“In the past, Ms. Sukanti sided with Mr. Biranchi when the child was subjected to exploitation, resulting in personal gain for the latter,” CWC Chairman R.S. Mishra said.

“Now, there is an attempt to market the media image of Budhia for their personal interest,” he said.

The committee expressed concern over Budhia’s future as everybody was out to grab a pie out of the child’s fame.

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