New Delhi [India], April 6 (HBTV): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has busted a network of infant traffickers involved in the buying and selling babies across India. 

Under the operation, CBI conducted searches at seven locations across Delhi and Haryana. Two male infants of just 1.5 days and 15 days and a female child of one month have also been rescued by the CBI during the operation from a house in the Keshavpuram area of Delhi. 

Incriminating articles including INR 5.5 lakh cash and other documents were recovered during searches. The CBI also arrested seven persons accused of involvement in the human trafficking network.

The arrested persons have been identified as one Neeraj, an Indu Pawar, one Aslam, a Pooja Kashyap, a Ritu, an Anjali and a Kavita. Neeraj was a native of Sonepat in Haryana while others lived at various places in Delhi. 

The CBI registered a criminal case under various penal provisions of IPC and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 against 10 persons. The charges are that a network of child traffickers is involved in buying and selling babies across India for the purpose of adoption as well as for other illegal purposes. 

Investigation so far has revealed that the accused persons connected through advertisements on social media platforms like the Facebook page and WhatsApp groups, with childless couples across India who are desirous of adopting babies. 

They allegedly purchase babies from real parents as well as surrogate mothers. Thereafter, they sell the infant children at prices ranging from INR four to six lakh per child. These accused persons are also allegedly involved in duping many childless couples of lakhs of rupees by creating fake documents related to adoption.

(ANI) This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for clarity.