Multi-state infant trafficking ring busted

An extensive investigation, launched after a four-year-old boy was rescued in Banaskantha on April 6, 2026, has revealed a sinister multi-state racket involving the abduction and sale of newborn babies. The Banaskantha police have apprehended three members of the "Murugan Gang," identified as its kingpin Murugan, along with Kasarapu Tirupathi Kasarapu Mallalah and Keleti Gangadhar Gangarajan. This gang is accused of trading at least eight newborns across Banaskantha, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Hyderabad.

The investigation exposed a shocking modus operandi where the gang allegedly procured infants and sold them within 24 to 48 hours of birth for sums ranging from ₹4 lakh to ₹5 lakh. Evidence suggests connections with IVF centers in Hyderabad, including Forty Nine IVF Centre, Hegde IVF Centre, and Nova IVF Centre, from which the gang reportedly received commissions for referring women.

Murugan, who has allegedly been involved in child trafficking for four years, was previously arrested and held in jail in 2025. His wife is also reportedly implicated in a similar case in Maharashtra. The network included several agents identified across cities like Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. A 15-day-shy-of-18 minor, whose mother is also jailed for child trafficking, was detained with ₹1.5 lakh cash, providing vital clues about Murugan's operations.