Police in Kasganj district of Uttar Pradesh have rescued a 45-day-old infant who was allegedly sold for ₹2 lakh, and arrested five people after a kidnapping story told to the family and the police was found to be fabricated, officials said.

According to the police, the case began after the infant's father, a labourer who works in Faridabad, lodged a complaint at Soron police station. He said his wife had gone to Kasganj on October 16 to get medicine for their infant son, and that the baby had allegedly disappeared at the Kasganj bus stand after she left him with an unidentified woman while she stepped away.

Investigators say the story did not hold up. Superintendent of Police O. P. Singh said the mother allegedly sold the baby in collusion with Dr Arun Kumar and his wife, who allegedly acted as middlemen. A couple from Hathras district, Mahipal and his wife, allegedly bought the baby for ₹2 lakh through the doctor couple, police said.

A case was registered at Soron police station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Juvenile Justice Act. Acting on the SP's directions, a joint team of Soron police and the district Special Operations Group (SOG) arrested all five accused — the infant's mother, Dr Arun Kumar, his wife, and the Hathras couple — and the baby was safely rescued, police said.

All of the above are allegations made by the police; the accused have not been convicted, and further legal proceedings are underway. The infant is not being named or identified in line with child-protection rules.

Sources: PTI reporting (Superintendent of Police O. P. Singh, Kasganj) and India Today.