Mumbai: A Palghar couple, who had secretly got married, were arrested for abandoning their 10-day-old daughter outside the husband’s house. They took this step to get his parents’ blessings for their marriage, said the police.
On August 18, Ramesh Shinde was shocked to find the baby on the porch of his house. Unaware that the baby was his granddaughter, Shinde informed the Palghar police.
During the investigation, the police learnt that Shinde’s son Rahul (25) was the baby’s father. He confessed that as his parents were against his relationship with Sarita Ghatal (23) because she belonged to another caste, they got married in secret. Later, Sarita got pregnant and delivered the baby. Her family was in the know of the secret marriage and her pregnancy. Rahul told the police they decided to leave the baby outside his house so that on seeing her, his parents’ give in and give their blessings to the marriage.
Along with the couple, the police also arrested Sarita’s sister, who helped them execute the plan, and booked them under IPC Section 317 (abandonment of child). They later got bail.
The police have admitted the baby to JJ Hospital as she has developed jaundice. After recovery, the newborn will be kept with a childcare agency until the child welfare committee decides on whether she should be returned to her parents, said sources.
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