Missing Wadia baby case weakens further

The case of the one-day old baby stolen from BJ Wadia Hospital last year seems to have reached a dead end. The Bhoiwada Police, with whom the case has been registered, have submitted their report to the Bombay High Court that states that they suspect somebody rich buying the baby.u00a0The case dates back to October 24, 2012, when Jasmine Devdas Naik's (28) one-day-old baby was stolen from BJ Wadia Hospital in Parel. The incident occurred around 5.30 in the evening during visiting hours, when Jasmine was busy speaking to her mother Sunita Mahapankar inside ward number 10 on the first floor of the hospital. Allegedly, a woman, clad in an orange saree and a black scarf over her head, entered the ward, picked up the baby and walked away. The Bhoiwada police registered a case of kidnapping against an unknown woman.u00a0

The sketch of the accused released by the police

Police also released a sketch of the suspect based on the description provided by an eye-witness. According to the witness, the woman was around 25-years-old, was dark complexioned and wore an orange dotted saree.u00a0Jasmine, a resident of Borivli, sat on hunger strike for 21 days in the hospital demanding immediate arrest of the accused. Her husband Devdas Naik was employed in Dubai and had come to Mumbai for the delivery. Devdas had even announced a R5 lakh reward for whoever helps them get their son back, but it was all in vain.u00a0

In May this year, the distraught parents approached the Bombay High Court through an NGO, demanding investigation through CID or the crime branch, following which the court asked the Bhoiwada police to submit their status report in this matter.u00a0In addition to stating that the baby could have been brought or adopted by somebody during this period, the police also told the court that a special team had done all that they could to find the missing baby. Sunil Tondwalkar, senior inspector, Bhoiwada Police Station, told SUNDAY MiD DAY, "We are trying our best. Our staff interrogated more than 100 people, whose babies had died soon after delivery in the hospital.u00a0

More than 125 people, who had contacted NGOs for the purpose of adopting babies, were also interrogated. We also questioned 150 people who could not conceive and are under treatment."u00a0The police have released a sketch of the suspect. They have also appealed to the citizens to immediately inform Kailash Chavan, inspector (investigation officer) on his mobile number 9821739966 or contact the police station on 24185637 or 24181759, if they spot the woman. Surprisingly, the 300-bed and two-storied Wadia hospital that sees around 25 deliveries a day, doesn't have a single CCTV camera.

Another case
In March 2012, a seven-month-old boy was stolen by a 70-year-old woman from the government-run Cama and Albless Hospital. After four days, the police rescued the boy from a beggar near Bombay Hospital. The beggar told the police that a woman had handed over the boy to her and left. u00a0