{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Infant Bought For Rs 1 Lakh In Asansol, Ration Dealer Vinod Kumar Gupta And Wife Among Three Arrested",
  "summary": "Police in Asansol, West Bengal, have uncovered the alleged sale of a two month 13 day old infant for Rs 1 lakh. Ration dealer Vinod Kumar Gupta, his wife Babita, and alleged middleman Ashok Bhowalka have been arrested following an email complaint.",
  "content": "A shocking case involving the alleged purchase of a two-month-and-thirteen-day-old infant for Rs 1 lakh has come to light in the Asansol district of West Bengal. Acting swiftly on a confidential complaint received via electronic mail, the Asansol Uttar police station launched an intensive operation in the region. A specialized police team conducted a raid in the Uttar Dhadka locality, successfully recovering the newborn baby boy from the possession of a local couple. Police have arrested three individuals, including the couple, in connection with the unlawful transaction and suspect child trade.\n\nIdentity of the Accused and Their Roles\nAccording to official police details, the arrested couple has been identified as 47-year-old Vinod Kumar Gupta and his 37-year-old wife, Babita Gupta. The couple resides in the Uttar Dhadka Lal Bangla area of Asansol. Investigation has revealed that Vinod Kumar Gupta is an authorized state government ration dealer operating under the public distribution system. Alongside the couple, authorities also apprehended an alleged middleman named Ashok Bhowalka, a resident of Dhadka Road, who reportedly facilitated the illegal monetary agreement between the involved parties.\n\nDeceit During Initial Interrogation Unravels\nDuring the preliminary stages of questioning, the accused couple attempted to mislead investigating officers by falsely claiming that the recovered infant was their biological son. However, as law enforcement personnel intensified their interrogation and cross-verified physical records, the couple's claims collapsed. Under sustained questioning, shocking details emerged indicating that the child had actually been procured for Rs 1 lakh from a private nursing home situated in Suri, located within the Birbhum district. The transaction was reportedly arranged through a network of middlemen who connected the buyers with representatives at the healthcare facility.\n\nLegal Charges and Statutory Provisions\nTaking stern note of the illegal transaction, law enforcement authorities have initiated formal criminal proceedings against the key suspects. An First Information Report (FIR) has been registered under relevant statutory sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as well as the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Beyond the arrested couple and middleman Ashok Bhowalka, the scope of the FIR encompasses several individuals associated with the private nursing home in Suri who allegedly participated in organizing or enabling the unlawful arrangement.\n\nChild Custody and Role of the Welfare Committee\nFollowing mandatory legal procedures, police prioritized the safety and well-being of the rescued infant. The child was immediately brought before the Chairman of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for official evaluation. The committee has assumed formal custody of the two-month-old infant to guarantee appropriate shelter, nutritional care, medical assessment, and long-term protection. The child will remain under the guardianship of the CWC while statutory investigations proceed and legal parentage is conclusively determined.\n\nCore Angles of the Ongoing Police Investigation\nInvestigators are pursuing multiple tracks to establish the complete facts surrounding the case. Police are examining whether any attempt was made to bypass official adoption procedures or execute illegal paperwork. Authorities are also investigating if fraudulent birth certificates or identity documents were manufactured to falsely portray Vinod Kumar Gupta and Babita Gupta as the biological parents. A primary objective of the investigation is to track down the infant's actual biological parents to ascertain whether the child was stolen, abandoned, or sold due to financial distress.\n\nInter-District Trafficking Links and Court Proceedings\nSenior police officials suspect that this case may be linked to a broader inter-district child trafficking network operating across nursing homes and illegal brokers. DCP Central Dhruv Das confirmed that the Asansol Uttar police station will produce all three arrested accused before the Asansol Court on Thursday. Police intend to petition the court for formal police custody of the suspects to perform custodial interrogation. This interrogation aims to uncover additional operatives, medical staff, or brokers who may be connected to this network or involved in previous infant sales.\n\nWhat this means for you\n• Across India: Highlights the strict legal consequences of illegal adoptions and underscores the importance of adhering strictly to government-authorized adoption channels.\n• In West Bengal and Asansol: Local authorities and the Child Welfare Committee have intensified scrutiny on private nursing homes and illicit adoption middlemen operating across the region.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Where did this incident take place and how was it uncovered?\nThe incident took place in the Asansol district of West Bengal. It was uncovered by the Asansol Uttar police station following a complaint received via email.\n\n2. Who has been arrested in connection with the infant sale?\nPolice arrested state government ration dealer Vinod Kumar Gupta (47), his wife Babita Gupta (37), and alleged middleman Ashok Bhowalka.\n\n3. What is the age of the recovered child and who currently has custody?\nThe recovered infant is 2 months and 13 days old. The child has been handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for safe care and protection.\n\n4. What did the police investigation reveal about the transaction source?\nPolice investigation revealed that the infant was allegedly obtained for Rs 1 lakh from a private nursing home located in Suri, Birbhum district.\n\n5. Under which statutory laws has the FIR been filed?\nThe case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/west-bengal/asansol-men-do-mahine-ke-shishu-ka-eka-lakha-rupaye-men-sauda-rashana-dilara-vinod-kumar-gupta-aura-patni-sameta-tina-aropi-giraph-18978",
  "category": "West Bengal",
  "publishedAt": "2026-08-20",
  "tags": [
    "Asansol",
    "West Bengal",
    "Child Trafficking",
    "Police Action",
    "Vinod Kumar Gupta",
    "Suri Nursing Home",
    "Child Welfare Committee"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}