Ahmed Ali / Mar 3, 2025, 22:53 IST
Mumbai: Mumbai Police have booked two women from Thane district for allegedly conspiring to illegally adopt a newborn by deceiving the KEM Hospital administration and falsifying identity documents. The case came to light following a medical emergency that led to the child's hospitalisation at Bai Jerbai Wadia Children Hospital in Parel, Mumbai. As the crime happened in Mumbai, the Kalyan police transferred the case to Bhoiwada police after registering an FIR.
The accused, identified as Shilpa Pandey (38) and Shahnaz Rehmat Ali Shaikh alias Pathan (34), are residents of Kalyan (East), Thane. While Pandey is currently on the run, the police served a notice to Pathan. The case was registered under various sections of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to police, Pandey became pregnant last year but did not want to keep the child due to her husband's alcoholism and the family's financial difficulties. During her pregnancy, Pandey met Pathan, who was unable to conceive due to medical complications and was looking to adopt a child. The two women allegedly struck a deal for adoption but decided to bypass the Central Adoption Resource Authority, the statutory body overseeing legal adoptions in India. To execute their plan, Pandey delivered the baby at KEM Hospital on Oct 11 last year, but falsely used Pathan's name and identification documents, including her Aadhaar card, to register the birth. This deception led to the issuance of a birth certificate naming Pathan as the mother. The hospital administration, failing to detect the fraud, discharged the baby on October 15.
The problem started when the child developed severe appendicitis and was admitted to Wadia Hospital on January 28. During the treatment, which involved surgery and subsequent infection management, discrepancies in the child's documentation and statements by Pathan raised suspicions. Pathan eventually admitted that the child was not biologically hers.
The hospital alerted the Sakhi Centre and the local police, who began an investigation. The Thane District Child Protection Unit was also notified, and a complaint was filed by Shraddha Santosh Narkar (43), a Centre Coordinator at Child Helpline 1098, who has been working in women and child welfare for the past 14 years.
Upon investigation, the police visited Pathan's residence at Kalyan East, Thane. Pathan revealed that the child's biological mother was Shilpa Ajay Pandey, who agreed to give up the baby due to her family's financial struggles. Pandey impersonated Pathan during her admission at KEM Hospital, presenting Pathan's Aadhaar card to secure the birth certificate under a false name.
Police registered a case under multiple sections of the BNS, including Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), Section 468 (Forgery for the purpose of cheating), Section 471 (using a forged document as genuine), and Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
Additionally, charges under the Juvenile Justice (care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 were filed, specifically Section 80 (prohibition of sale and procurement of children for adoption in contravention of the Act) and Section 81 (punishment for illegal adoption).
The police are also investigating possible lapses in the hospital's protocols for verifying identity documents. The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has been informed, and the child has been taken into protective custody.
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