A Punjab woman has accused her former husband of selling her 16-day-old son for Rs 5 lakh, allegedly for money linked to drug abuse, after first helping her through childbirth, earning her trust and then taking away the newborn on the pretext of vaccination.
The woman claims she was later told that her baby had died and been buried. Days afterwards, she allegedly received a phone call from a woman who said the child was alive and with her.
The allegations, now under police scrutiny, have prompted the Police Commissioner to order an investigation.
FROM DELIVERY ROOM TO DISAPPEARANCE
According to Shivani, the complainant, the story began months before the child went missing.
She and her former husband, Shiva, had been married for 12 years and had two children together before separating around four years ago following domestic disputes. Both remarried after the divorce.
Shivani said she later married Malvinder, a photographer who had also been her classmate from school.
A dispute with her second husband around three months ago led her to move into a rented room and live separately while she was pregnant.
That was when, she claims, her former husband re-entered her life.
According to Shivani, Shiva began visiting her along with their children from the first marriage and assured her that she need not worry about the pregnancy.
When labour pains began on May 21, she alleges it was Shiva who took her to Civil Hospital in Jalandhar.
There, she gave birth to a baby boy.
But what happened next has become the centre of the family’s complaint.
‘THEY WON MY TRUST’
Shivani alleged that Shiva did not come alone to the hospital.
She claims he arrived with his current wife and another young woman.
Over the next few days, she says, the couple became deeply involved in helping her care for the newborn.
According to Shivani, Shiva’s wife even breastfed the child and developed a close relationship with her.
Looking back, she now believes that was part of a plan to gain her confidence.
“I trusted them completely,” she said.
THE VACCINATION EXCUSE
Four days after the baby’s birth, on May 25, Shiva allegedly informed her that the newborn needed vaccination.
According to Shivani, a young woman arrived at her rented accommodation and told her she would take the baby for the procedure.
Her elder son was outside playing at the time.
Shivani says she briefly went to the bathroom.
When she returned, both the woman and the baby had vanished.
The child has not been seen by her since.
‘YOUR BABY IS WITH ME’
For days, Shivani searched for her son and repeatedly contacted her former husband.
Then came a phone call she says changed everything.
About four days after the disappearance, an unknown woman allegedly called her and claimed that the baby was with her.
According to Shivani, the caller said she was from Amritsar and had paid money for the child.
But there was a problem.
“The woman said she could not manage the baby and wanted her money back,” Shivani alleged.
The caller allegedly told her to return the money and take the child.
Shivani says she immediately began recording the conversation. The moment she did so, the caller disconnected.
The phone has remained switched off ever since, she claimed.
‘HE TOLD ME THE BABY HAD DIED’
As she desperately tried to locate her son, Shivani continued contacting Shiva.
According to her, one call was answered by his current wife.
What she heard left her stunned.
“She told me the baby had died and they had buried him,” Shivani alleged.
Confused by the conflicting versions, she began speaking to people in the locality.
She claims she was then told that the child had not died and had instead been sold.
CASH ON INSTAGRAM
Shivani further alleged that around the same time she noticed something unusual on social media.
According to her, Shiva uploaded an Instagram story showing bundles of currency notes.
She claims the post was removed shortly afterwards.
The money, she believes, came from the sale of the child.
She further alleged that he used the funds to buy an LED television, a cooler and other household items.
‘HE THREATENED ME’
The woman also accused her former husband of threatening her when she began questioning him about the child’s whereabouts.
According to Shivani, he warned her against approaching the authorities.
“He told me he had bought a new pistol. He said if I complained to anyone, I would face the consequences,” she alleged.
A FAMILY THAT NEVER SAW THE NEWBORN
One of the most painful aspects of the case, according to Shivani, is that her husband and mother-in-law had not even seen the baby before he disappeared.
She said she initially kept the matter to herself because she was frightened and unsure how to explain what had happened.
On May 29, she finally informed her husband.
Her mother-in-law then came to meet her.
“She had not even seen the baby’s face,” Shivani said.
“My husband had not held him either.”
DRUG MONEY ALLEGATION
Shivani alleged that her former husband is addicted to ‘chitta’, a term commonly used for heroin, and is also involved in its sale.
She further alleged that his current wife is involved in the same activity.
According to her, several criminal cases have previously been registered against him at Rama Mandi police station.
These allegations have not been independently verified.
POLICE ORDER PROBE
The case has now reached senior police officials.
After receiving the complaint, the Police Commissioner directed the SHO of Rama Mandi police station to investigate the allegations.
The probe is expected to focus on the disappearance of the newborn, the alleged sale of the child, the identity of the woman who contacted Shivani from Amritsar and the circumstances under which the baby was taken away.
As the investigation begins, the biggest question remains unanswered: where is the 16-day-old child?
– Ends
With inputs from Davinder Kumar
Published By:
Sonali Verma
Published On:
Jun 6, 2026 15:07 IST
