The Mumbai Crime Branch has exposed a baby-selling racket with the arrest of four women on Sunday. Police said the accused would keep track of babies born in the slum pockets of Mumbai to parents facing financial issues, and convince them to sell them to childless couples for a few lakhs of rupees. Police have also arrested two buyers and rescued two babies who were illegally sold to couples seeking this 'shortcut' adoption.

The accused include Bhagyashri Koli alias Soni, 26, a resident of Kalyan, who works with a private hospital. She also runs a consultancy, 'Little Steps,' where she advises couples who want to be parents, on adoption etc. Another accused, Sunanda Masane alias Sunita, 30, a resident of Mankhurd, is a housewife who kept tabs on couples who are in financial trouble and wished to give away their babies. The third accused, Savita Salunkhe, 30, works with a security agency and was posted at Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi. She had the task of looking for couples who wished to adopt babies, while Asha alias Lalita Joseph, 35 a resident of Kalyan, allegedly involved in surrogacy, also lured couples to opt for 'adoption' through this illegal way.