Thane: A 50-year-old woman was arrested on Friday by the anti-human trafficking cell of Thane for allegedly trying to sell a five-year-old girl for Rs 20,000 at Bhiwandi. The girl has been sent to an observation home.
According to HT, Shobha Bansi Gaikwad, allegedly faked the adoption documents to show that she had adopted the girl from a friend in Gujarat three months ago. “The woman from Gujarat was divorced and wanted to remarry, but the girl was a hindrance. A few months ago, she decided to remarry a man from Gujarat and gave away the girl to Gaikwad who brought her to Bhiwandi three months ago,” said Ravindra Daundkar, senior inspector, anti-human trafficking cell.
Whereas she told her acquaintances that she wanted to sell the girl for Rs 30,000, which she later lessened to Rs 20,000, said Daundkar.
“We got a tip-off a week ago and arrested her on Friday,” he said. The police said that Gaikwad neglected the child’s care and did not even send her to school. “We will talk to the girl to know more about her condition. As of now, she is in observation home where she will be taken care of,” said Daundkar. Gaikwad has been taken into police custody until July 6.