Man Allegedly Sells Newborn Daughter in Odisha’s Bhadrak District

Bhadrak: In a shocking incident, a man in Odisha’s Bhadrak district has been accused of selling his three-day-old daughter, reportedly because she was his second girl child. The incident was reported from Bada Malik Sahi village under Kharida Binayakpur Gram Panchayat within the Basudevpur police limits.

According to reports, Banita Das, wife of Sanjay Malik, gave birth to a baby girl at the Basudevpur Community Health Centre on September 30 at 4:01 PM. Shortly after the delivery, Sanjay allegedly got into an argument with nurses at the hospital. Following the family’s discharge, villagers claimed that the father had sold the newborn baby.

The matter came to light on Saturday morning when Anganwadi worker Suprabha Das visited the family’s home for a routine postnatal check-up and found the infant missing. When she questioned the parents and asked Sanjay to show the baby on a video call, he failed to do so. Suspicious of foul play, she inquired with neighbours, who suggested that the newborn had been sold.

Upon confrontation, Sanjay reportedly admitted to handing over the baby to a childless man from Tihidi Dolsahi, citing financial difficulties and the responsibility of already having a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter. He further claimed that the person had promised to transfer two gunthas of land in the child’s name and that the exchange had been done with “police and court documents.”

Meanwhile, Basudevpur police stated that they have not yet received an official report regarding the incident. However, the local Anganwadi worker has lodged a complaint with the Child Helpline, and further investigation into the matter is underway.