Woman arrested for 'selling' her child

Shaila Patil, the mother of the child, alleged buyer Amar Morje (32) and Patil's friends Yogesh Gosawi (42) and Anant Damaji (34) who allegedly helped her strike the deal were arrested yesterday after her husband lodged a complaint.

Inspector Harish Madkaikar of Ponda police station, who is investigating the case, said Patil allegedly sold the child keeping her husband in the dark as she needed money.

All the accused live in Pernem tehsil. Shaila Patil is originally from Pune.

She asked her friends Gosawi and Damaji to help her sell her baby son, saying she badly needed Rs two lakh.

Gosawi and Damaji contacted Morje, who is married but childless and was allegedly willing to buy a baby.

The child was handed over to Morje on March 23, the police officer said.

Patil's husband was away at the time. He found out what had happened on his return, and approached police, inspector Madkaikar said.

Police have registered a case under anti-trafficking provisions of the Indian Penal Code, he said.