Three Convicted in Maharashtra for Newborn Kidnapping

In Thane district, Maharashtra a court has sentenced three individuals convicted of kidnapping a newborn from a government hospital to five years and six months of rigorous imprisonment.

The accused, Gudiya Sonu Rajbhar (43), her husband Sonu (49), and Vilas Kailas Srivastav (57), were found guilty of offenses under sections 363 (kidnapping) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code by Additional Sessions Judge GG Bhansali.

During the trial, Additional Public Prosecutor Varsha Chandane informed the court that on January 14, 2018, Gudiya kidnapped a baby boy within four hours of his birth from the labor ward of a government hospital and took him home.

The police subsequently traced the accused, recovered the baby, and reunited him with his parents.

It was revealed in court that the accused couple had planned to hand over the infant to the third accused, Vilas Kailas Srivastav.

The trial included examination of eighteen prosecution witnesses, including police officials and experts.

In delivering the verdict, the judge emphasized the vulnerability of a newborn, stating that a newborn baby is a sucking child, and the presence of a mother and breastmilk is vital, akin to oxygen.

Considering that the accused couple, who are parents to six children, had been in jail since 2018, the court deemed it appropriate to impose punishment for the period they had already served.