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Woman charged with trade of babies denied bail

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday refused bail to a 71-year-old woman who allegedly ran a racket in buying and selling newborn babies of unwed mothers from her nursing home here.

Renuka Chowdhury, owner of the nursing home at Dum Dum, has been accused of using the nursing home to give birth to children of unwed mothers and then buying them.

She would then sell the babies to childless couples for a premium, alleged public prosecutor Ashimesh Goswami and counsel Rehana Sultana before a Division Bench of the Court comprising Justice Amit Talukdar and Justice Prasenjit Mondal.

Chowdhury was allegedly caught in the act when she had a dispute with a couple over her demand for Rs. 85,000 for a girl child and local people reported the matter to the police.

Chowdhury was arrested on August 20 and the baby girl was taken to a home for destitute children.

The woman has been charged under Section 372 (selling a minor), 379 (theft), 120B (conspiracy) and section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Chowdhury’s son, who allegedly assisted her in the racket, was absconding.

Jayanata Narayan Chowdhury, counsel for the woman, prayed for her bail citing old age and illness. – PTI.

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Woman charged with trade of babies denied bail

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