1 week ago
High Court Denies Custody in Alleged Baby Trafficking Case
A man asked the court to return a baby to him.
He said the baby had been adopted from the biological parents.
Police say he bought the baby for Rs 8 lakh in an alleged child-trafficking scheme.
The baby was removed from his care during the investigation.
Officials placed the infant in a special agency for protection.
The man’s lawyer said the family loved and cared for the child.
The state said the baby’s safety and lawful protection were more important.
The High Court refused to return the baby and said the trafficking allegations must be decided at trial.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed a man’s habeas corpus petition seeking custody of an infant.
Police allege that the man bought the baby for Rs 8 lakh as part of a newborn-trafficking racket.
The man said he and his partner legally adopted the infant and had raised the child as their own.
The baby was taken into protective custody and placed at a Specialised Adoption Agency.
The court said returning the child to an alleged trafficker would be unjust, while leaving the allegations for the trial court.
- Who
- The Punjab and Haryana High Court, an unnamed man seeking custody, the state, and the infant.
- What
- The court dismissed the man’s habeas corpus petition for custody of the baby.
- Where
- Before the Punjab and Haryana High Court; the infant was placed at a Specialised Adoption Agency.
- When
- The court’s order was dated August 25; the infant was obtained in December 2025, and the FIR was registered on April 1.
- Why
- The court found that returning the infant to a person accused of purchasing the child in a trafficking case would not serve the child’s welfare and safety.
Petitioner’s Position
State’s Position
Nature of the custody
Petitioner’s Position
The man’s lawyer said the couple had adopted the infant from the biological parents through a notarised adoption deed and had raised the baby as their own.
State’s Position
The state said the child was recovered during a trafficking investigation and was allegedly purchased by the man for Rs 8 lakh.
Removal of the infant
Petitioner’s Position
The petitioner argued that authorities took the child away without following due procedure and relied on court judgments supporting restoration to adoptive parents.
State’s Position
The state argued that the infant was a child in need of care and protection, making safety, welfare, and lawful protection paramount.
Custody outcome
Petitioner’s Position
The petitioner sought the infant’s immediate custody, citing the couple’s emotional bond with the child.
State’s Position
The state opposed custody because the man was himself an accused in the child-trafficking FIR.
Key facts
- Court
- Punjab and Haryana High Court
- Judge
- Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi
- Petition
- Habeas corpus petition seeking the infant’s custody
- Police allegation
- The man allegedly purchased the baby for Rs 8 lakh from another accused
- FIR
- Registered on April 1 over an alleged racket involving trafficking and illegal sale of newborn babies
- Protective placement
- The Child Welfare Committee directed that the infant be kept at a Specialised Adoption Agency
- Court’s clarification
- The court did not decide whether the trafficking allegations were genuine or whether the adoption deed was valid
Quotes
Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi
Punjab and Haryana High Court judge who issued the custody order
“It would be a travesty of justice in case the child is ordered to be handed over to his alleged trafficker.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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