A severe case of extortion and an alleged attempt to broker the sale of an infant has emerged from Bokaro General Hospital in Jharkhand. Hospital staff members have been accused of demanding illegal fees for a routine delivery and proposing to sell a newborn girl for 2 lakh rupees under the pretext of family financial hardship. Following the emergence of a video related to the incident, the local district administration, police officials, and Bokaro Steel management have initiated formal investigations. As a precautionary measure, the mother and her infant daughter have been transferred to the district Sadar Hospital.
Extortion Demands and Shifting Amounts for Routine Delivery
According to family statements, Soni Kumari, wife of Manoj Kumar Bauri and a resident of Circus Maidan in Bokaro, was admitted to Bokaro General Hospital on October 29. On the evening of October 30, she underwent a normal delivery and gave birth to a baby girl. Trouble began shortly after the birth when hospital staff members allegedly approached the family and demanded 40,000 rupees in exchange for facilitating the delivery.
When the family voiced strong objections against paying the illicit amount, the hospital staff began bargaining down the price. The requested sum was initially lowered to 21,000 rupees and subsequently reduced to 15,000 rupees. Under intense pressure, the family managed to arrange and hand over 10,000 rupees. Despite this payment, the harassment reportedly continued, with staff members making persistent telephone calls demanding an additional 10,000 rupees from the distressed father.
Offer to Sell Baby Girl for 2 Lakh Rupees and Video Evidence
Manoj Kumar Bauri stated that a sanitation worker and three nurses at the facility actively suggested selling the newborn child for 2 lakh rupees. Pointing out that the couple was already raising two daughters, the staff members reportedly argued that supporting a third female child would prove financially unsustainable and framed the sale of the infant as a convenient monetary solution.
A video clip linked to the incident has since surfaced, showing Soni Kumari recounting her ordeal from the hospital bed. In the recording, she details how documentation was routinely prepared inside the facility to facilitate the illicit transfer and sale of newborns. She further claimed during the recording that similar transactions involving infant sales had been orchestrated within the hospital premises in the past.
Inquiry Ordered by Chas SDM and Police Investigation
Recognizing the gravity of the accusations, Chas Sub-Divisional Magistrate Pranjal Dhanda directed officials to conduct an immediate and thorough inquiry into the facility's operations. The investigation is currently being spearheaded by personnel from the Sector-4 police station.
Commenting on the progress of the case, Sector-4 Police Station In-charge Nitish Kumar said, "The matter is being investigated." He noted that initial inquiries have not yet substantiated the allegations on the ground, though evidence collection remains active. Concurrently, the Bokaro Steel management is treating the incident seriously and looking into staff conduct. With the mother and newborn now secured in the care of Sadar Hospital, authorities maintain that the factual veracity of the allegations will be confirmed once the formal investigation reaches its conclusion.
