The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : ‘Kidnap’ case has a happy ending

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

‘Kidnap’ case has a happy ending

Special Correspondent

Couple whisk away son handed over to children’s home in East Tambaram

TAMBARAM: Three years after leaving his child in a children’s home, a man took away his son from the home in East Tambaram on Sunday. Police and authorities at the children’s home panicked as it initially seemed to be a case of kidnapping.

John Regan, the three-year-old boy was reported missing from the premises of the children’s home (SOS Chatnath Homes) on Sunday evening. Staff at the home lodged a complaint with Selaiyur police and on Monday, they received an anonymous letter which said the boy was safe with his parents.

The letter further said that it was the parents who dropped Regan, when he was just two months old outside the children’s home in April 2004 as they were unable to look after him.

And as they were now well settled, they were taking away their son. They also asked volunteers at the home to forgive them for taking away their son. Enquiries by staff at the children’s home and investigations by Selaiyur police revealed that the child was born to Rajesh and Sujatha.

Police were able to trace the couple and the child at their house in Sembakkam near Tambaram on Monday.

Sujatha was raised in the children’s home and after her education, moved out of the home. Incidentally, she brought Regan to the home in April 2004, informing staff she noticed the abandoned baby in a dust bin. Though she was staying elsewhere, she would visit the children’s home often.

Staff said they got Sujatha and Rajesh married in a simple ceremony at the children’s home earlier this year.

On Monday, Sujatha produced photographic evidences of Regan with her and her husband even as he was a two-month-old boy. Staff said they were convinced that Sujatha and Rajesh were the natural parents of Regan. Hence, they restored the boy with the couple.

Though they felt relieved that ‘kidnap’ episode had drawn to a close, staff said if Rajesh had approached them directly, the child could have been restored to them without any hassle or embarrassment, adding they would not be pressing with the police complaint against Rajesh. Selaiyur police, however, are continuing to question Rajesh over the incident.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail