CHANDIGARH, SEPT 14: Directing the Central Bureau of Investigation here to conduct an inquiry into the alleged sale of a baby boy after delivery at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today further directed its completion within four months.Disposing of the petition filed by Roopnagar resident Ramanjit Kaur, Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi directed the premier investigating agency to "conduct an inquiry into the allegations made in the petition and also any representation given by the petitioner to them". Justice Chalapathi also permitted the CBI "to examine the record in the case".
In his detailed order pronounced in the open court, Justice Chalapathi observed: "The petitioners are also at liberty to produce any material before the investigating officer. The PGI is also directed to furnish the record required by the investigating officer and they are also at liberty to place such material before the investigating officer as they deem fit". CBI standing counsel Rajan Gupta was present in the court.
Earlier, accusing the PGI authorities of "handing over only the female child", Ramanjit Kaur had alleged that "inquiries from certain Class-IV employees of the PGI, whose names were not known to her, had revealed that two children had been born to her".
Claiming to have been informed about the twins by a Roopnagar doctor after going through the ultrasound report, the petitioner had stated that the fact was confirmed by the PGI authorities also.
The counsel for the petitioner had further submitted that Superintendent of Police, deputed by the Roopnagar Senior Superintendent of Police to visit "the probable places where the male child could have been taken after kidnapping", had taken the photographs of the boy playing at the residence of a Roopnagar resident.
The High Court, it may be recalled, had earlier ordered the conducting of DNA test for finding out "whether the male child", allegedly "sold to someone, was really born to the petitioner". Justice Chalapathi had directed the Joint Registrar (Rules) to send blood samples of the petitioner and the two children, her daughter and the boy allegedly sold, to the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics at Hyderabad. Justice Chalapathi had also directed the petitioner "to deposit a sum of Rs 15,000 to meet the expenses for sending the samples to Hyderabad by air". The DNA report, received by the High Court, had, however, failed to establish any connection between the petitioner or her daughter with the boy alleged to have been sold.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.