Poverty stricken man sells infant to childless couple for a lakh, held

A man who allegedly sold his five-month old baby to a childless couple for Rs one lakh was arrested on Tuesday along with three others, police said.

Sutheesh Kumar, a construction worker living in penury, had given the baby boy, his second child, to the couple on December 31 last after they lured him by offering Rs one lakh through a broker, they said.

He had agreed to the offer though his wife was not willing.

However, the couple did not take care of the baby properly and it started crying, following which neighbours informed police and Child Helpline officials about the incident.

On a complaint, the All-Women police station personnel arrested Sutheesh Kumar, the man who bought the baby, and two others, including the wife of the broker.

A search was on for the broker, police added.