In a shocking incident, the Frezarpura Police have booked three perons including a woman doctor, her husband who is District President of Shiv Sena (UBT), and a minor boy for allegedly attempting to sell a newborn baby born of a 17-year-old minor girl. The accused couple are reported absconding. Police have launched search for them. According to police details, the victim (17) was in a relationship with a 17-year-old boy, which resulted in her pregnancy. As her condition became apparent, her family brought her to Dr Vaishali Bhojane for medical consultation. After examination, the doctor confirmed that the pregnancy was five months advanced and proceeded to oversee all medical care leading up to the delivery. On October 15, the minor girl gave birth to a baby. However, the situation took a dark turn post delivery.

 

The FIR alleged that Dr Bhojane and her husband Praful Bhojane summoned the victim’s father to the clinic and allegedly hatched a plot to sell the newborn baby for Rs 3.50 lakh. Initially, the doctors allegedly attempted to mislead the family by claiming the infant would be handed over to an orphanage or an authorised adoption agency, urging them not to worry. Sensing that the doctors were attempting to traffic the newborn, the victim and her parents managed to take physical custody of the infant on Saturday and walked out of the clinic. Following a formal complaint, the Frezarpura Police swung into action by Sunday evening. A case under sections of rape, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, criminal intimidation, and human trafficking has been registered against Dr Vaishali Bhojane, her husband, and the minor boy responsible for the pregnancy. Dr Vaishali Bhojane and her husband Praful Bhojane are reported absconding.

 

The couple locked down their establishment-Bhojane Maternity and Nursing Home located in the Booty Plot area of Rajapeth late Sunday night. While cops kept a strict vigil outside the sealed nursing home on Sunday and Monday. Meanwhile, the minor boy was apprehended on Monday and produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. On Monday afternoon, the newborn baby of the 17-year-old victim was presented before the Rukmini Nagar-based Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Authorities confirmed that the infant is currently safe and staying with its minor mother. Police have stated that if the victim’s family formally takes up the responsibility of raising both the young mother and the child, legal custody will be handed over to them in accordance with court directives. Investigators noted that Dr Bhojane committed a grave legal lapse by failing in her primary statutory duty to immediately report the pregnancy of a minor to the nearest police station. To prevent the destruction or tampering of crucial evidence, Frezarpura Police formally wrote to the District Civil Surgeon and the Municipal Health Officer on Monday. The Amravati Municipal Corporation (AMC) is set to initiate procedures to seal the hospital premises. Ravindra Rajulwar, Police Inspector, has also sought comprehensive administrative details from the civic body, investigating whether Dr Vaishali Bhojane held valid licenses for running the nursing home and abortion centre and other details. Addressing a press conference on Monday, Varsha Bhoyar of Shiv Sena (Shinde Faction) claimed that she had engineered the trap that exposed the racket. Police are slated to interrogate her and record her formal statement. However, Frezarpura Police clarified that neither of the involved women leaders has yet furnished concrete audio or video evidence to back up their claims.

 

Taking serious cognisance of the matter, Yashwant Solanke, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and Nayan Alurkar, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), visited the spot on Monday to inspect the locked medical facility. Law enforcement authorities are widening their scope to probe whether a larger organised syndicate operates behind the racket and if similar illegal adoptions or sales occurred in the past. Shivrai Kulkarni, State Spokeperson of BJP, also condemned the incident and demanded for through investigation of the case. He demanded that, investigation about how many such crime committed by Praful Bhojane and his doctor wife, how many newborns being sold on the name of adoption, how many pre-ntal dtermination being done illegally and how many illegal abortion being done.