Mangaluru: The Kavoor police have solved the problem of a mother who had given her child for adoption to her friend here, on July 23.
Speaking to mangalorean.com, Inspector of Kavoor Police Station Nataraj said that the mother, Sumati, had filed a complaint that the woman who had adopted her child, was demanding Rs 10,000 and threatening to commit suicide. The mother already has 8 children and this is her 9th delivery. When she was pregnant, she told her friend Revati (name changed) that she wanted to abort the baby. But Revati advised her against it and assured of adopting the baby. She also gave Rs 5000 to Sumati as expenses for the delivery.
As soon as Sumati delivered the baby, she handed it over to Revati. But when the Childline Centre received a complaint from the public that a new born baby was being taken to Shivamogga, the Childline along with the help of the Kavoor police took the child into their custody. A case was registered in this regard and after warning both the women, the child was handed over to its mother. Later, Revati started to threaten Sumati, saying that if she did not return the money which she had given, she would commit suicide.
Speaking to mangalorean.com, Sumati said, “I am a mother of 8 children and this is my 9th child. When I was working with an NGO in the city, I met Revati from Konchady and we became friends. When I conceived, I told her that I already have 8 children and so I wanted to abort the baby. At that time, Revati told me not to abort the child and that she would adopt the baby. I delivered the baby on April 15, and on the second day of my delivery, I handed over the child to Revati. Within a week, while Revati was planning to shift the child to Shivamogga, the police along with the childline team arrested Revati along with the child and handed it over to the Childline Centre.” She also said Ravati had asked her to hand over the child after three months.
Sumati further said, “Ever since the child was taken back from her by the police, she was threatening me saying ‘I will commit suicide consuming poison if you will not give me Rs 10000 back’. When she started to threaten me often, I informed the Childline team, who had instructed me not give the child to anyone. Earlier I did not know the procedure for adoption. Now, I came to know that there is a legal procedure for adoption which has to be followed. I arrived at the police station and filed a complaint against Revati.”
Sumati returned Rs 5000 to Revati in the presence of the police since her husband had asked her to return the money. Not satisfied with Rs 5000, Revati demanded for another Rs 5000 as she did not get the child.
Speaking to our correspondent, the co-ordinator of Childline Centre Sampath said that on April 21, at around 10 pm, the centre received a call from a person saying that a child was being shifted to Shivamogga on suspicious conditions. “The District Child Rescue team arrived at the Kavoor Police Station and with the support of the police, rescued the child from the woman. Later, we handed over the child to the mother and on the same day, we admitted both of them to Lady Goschen hospital under the guidance of the Child Welfare Department. The child was later handed over to the mother with a warning not to part with the child illegally. Revati who wanted to adopt the child said that she has spent Rs 5000 for Sumati’s delivery and she was demanding her money back. Due to poverty, Sumati had handed over her child to Revati but after the warning from the police, the mother has been taking good care of the child. Meanwhile, Revati was threatening to consume poison if she did not get Rs 10000.”
Sumati agreed to pay Rs 5000 and on July 23, Revati was called to the police station to receive the money in front of the police.
In an undertaking given to the police, Revati has promised that she will not threaten Sumati in regard to the child or money and the matter was settled.
