Unwed couple had left baby in care of woman from whom they borrowed Rs 70,000, after which she demanded Rs 2 lakh to return the child
The Malad police with the baby
It was a happy ending for a baby born out of wedlock and her parents on Tuesday, when she was rescued by the police from a woman they had left her with, and who had been blackmailing them for money. Her parents who had hidden their relationship from their families fearing opposition, will now be married. The accused and her accomplice have been detained for investigation.
The baby was rescued after the man and his parents approached a local for help. Representation pic
The baby’s parents, both 23, belong to different communities and feared their families would not let them get married. They are neighbours in Malad. The man who works in a call centre, stays with his parents. The woman was staying alone as she is studying for MPSC and her parents had gone to their village in the lockdown.
After the woman got pregnant and was due to give birth, her boyfriend admitted her to the Kokilaben hospital where she gave birth to a girl on November 7. The hospital bill was around Rs 1.7 lakh. He paid Rs 1 lakh by mortgaging his bike and taking a loan from his friends, but could not arrange the remaining R70,000.
Learnt about accused
He then learnt about the accused, Geeta Khatri, 34, in Hanuman Nagar, Kandivli east through his friend. She allegedly lent money on interest. The man took R70,000 from Khatri on five percent interest and paid the hospital.
Speaking to mid-day, the man said, “The biggest issue before us was where to keep the baby. So I asked Khatri for help. She agreed to look after her provided we paid for the expenses every month. From different sources, I have paid thousands of rupees to Khatri for the baby.”
“But for the past few days, she had been demanding more money from me and threatened that if I didn’t give her Rs 2 lakh soon, she will tell our families about the baby. I finally told my parents everything and they told my girlfriend’s parents,” said the man.
‘Refused to return baby’
He said his parents told Khatri they would pay her Rs 70,000 that I had borrowed with interest, but she refused to give the baby back for less than R2 lakh. “She gave the baby to a person named Jabbar Shaikh in Hanuman Nagar and threatened us that if we did not give her R2 lakh, she would make her disappear,” said the man.
The man and his family then approached Nevada Putman, a local who runs an NGO, for help. Putman spoke to senior officials of the Malad police station. On Putman’s request this reporter also spoke to them and they rescued the baby.
“Senior police officials from Malad police station rescued the child. Me and my parents thank the Mumbai police and Nevada Putman,” said the relieved man. “Under the supervision of DCP Vishal Thakur, Inspector Sudheer Dalvi and PSI Vijay Nayak along with their detection staff rescued the baby and recorded the statement of the baby’s father. The baby was given to her parents,” said Senior Inspector D Ligade from Malad police station.
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