The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Saturday that it has busted a network of infant traffickers and rescued three newborns from searches at seven different locations across Delhi and Haryana.

Seven accused have been arrested in connection with this case, the officials said.

Incriminating articles, including Rs. 5.5 lakh cash and other documents were also recovered by the officials during the searches.

As part of the operation, the CBI conducted searches at seven locations across Delhi and Haryana, the officials said.

“Two male infants of just 1.5 days and 15 days and one female child of one month have also been rescued by CBI during the operation,” it said.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused, with the help of advertisements on social media platforms like the Facebook page and WhatsApp groups, used to contact childless couples across India who were desirous of adopting babies. They allegedly purchase babies from real parents as well as surrogate mothers and thereafter sell the infant children at prices ranging from Rs 4 to 6 lakhs per child,” the officials said.

These accused are also allegedly involved in duping many childless couples of lakhs of rupees by creating fake documents related to adoption, it added.

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

Further investigation into the case is underway.

(With UNI inputs)