Adopted daughter puts couple in parent trap

As family lodges missing complaint, police fear teenager may have strayed into prostitution

Adopted daughter puts couple in parent trap

As family lodges missing complaint, police fear teenager may have strayed into prostitution

A city-based couple has filed a missing complaint with the police after their 19-year-old adopted daughter failed to return home following a night out with friends. The complaint has been lodged at the Chatuhshrungi police station and another complaint application has been sent to the Social Security Cell of the Pune Crime Branch. The police now fear the missing teenager might have strayed into prostitution.

The mother works at a premier research institute, while the father is a professor. They had adopted Sheetal (name changed) when she was a year old on September 21, 1993 from SOFOSH centre, the police said. The couple had found her in a numb state on Platform No. 1 of Pune railway station.

"The couple admitted Sheetal into the St Joseph School. But as she grew up her behaviour started changing. She used to steal or demand money from her adoptive parents to look for her real parents. At the age of 13, Sheetal was referred to Dr Ujjwala Nene but her behavior did not change. She got more aggressive, abusive, arrogant and also threatened to commit suicide several times," said a senior police officer, who is investigating the case. "As per the complaint, Sheetal used to go out with her male and female friends and keep late hours, returning only in the morning. She has two phone numbers. She also keeps a matchbox with her. In August 2009, it was found that she had consumed some narcotic substances."

The police said the parents had filed a missing complaint fearing their daughter may be indulging in shady activities. "We fear that Sheetal has already strayed into prostitution," said the officer. MiD DAY contacted the adoptive parents, who confirmed the developments but refused to divulge details. Madhuri Abhyankar, director of SOFOSH, said: "Parenting is like walking on a tightrope. Besides, adoption requires special parenting. Usually after adopting a child, parents pamper the kid a lot and then suddenly stop it. This affects the child. Also, Sheetal's is a teenage problem and not only related to adoption. More such problems are cropping up and we have developed some books to help adoptive parents too."