The curtain falls on the controversial adoption drama

Family court criticizes child welfare committee over the adoption of a child without mother’s knowledge.  The affiliation license granted to the committee by the State Adoption Regulatory Authority expired in 2016.  The court was outraged that the updated original document was not produced along with the affidavit. 

The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) told the court that the investigation into the baby was in its final stages.  The court also asked for ten days to submit the final report of the study.  The court will decide on the matter, including conducting a baby DNA test.  Anupama S. Chandran’s mother complained that the baby had been adopted illegally.

The child welfare committee representative and the police had gone to Andhra Pradesh to bring the baby back.  The Child Welfare Committee had ordered the return of an adopted child to a teacher couple in Andhra Pradesh within five days. 

The couple from Andhra Pradesh had handed over the child in the adoption case to the Child Welfare Committee officials yesterday.  The baby will be brought to Thiruvananthapuram today.  A team of four went to Andhra Pradesh to get back the baby in a case related to Anupama S. Chandran’s complaint that the baby was adopted illegally. 

A team of women police led by the Special Juvenile Police Unit DySP was also present to provide security.  Earlier this month, the court ordered the adoption to be stopped.  The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) had on May 17 ordered the return of the baby, who was handed over to a couple in Andhra Pradesh for temporary care before Dutt, within five days. 

Two days later, a team from Kerala went to fetch the baby.  Anupama, the child’s mother, said that an unlicensed child welfare committee did the child trafficking.  Secretary Shijukhan should be prosecuted and expelled.  She added that she would write a letter to the Chief Minister requesting it.  She said the strike would not end soon. 

Meanwhile, the baby will be brought to Thiruvananthapuram today for DNA testing.  The baby was handed over to a couple in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.  A team comprising child welfare committee officials and police officers will arrive in Thiruvananthapuram today to pick up the baby from them. 

The Vijayawada couple initially refused to hand over the baby to the bureaucracy, and their concern was to release the baby without a court order.  Later, the Child Welfare Committee officials contacted them on the phone, and after confirming the situation, they agreed. 

They expressed concern over the controversy and allegations surrounding the baby.  Samples will be collected for DNA testing as soon as the baby arrives in Thiruvananthapuram.  Notice will also be issued to collect samples of complainants Anupama S. Chandran and Ajith Kumar. 

The CWC has ordered an inspection at the Rajiv Gandhi Biotechnology Center.  Test results will be available within two days.  If it is proved that she is the child of Anupama and Ajith, they will be released with the permission of the court and the Child Welfare Committee.  Until then, the District Child Protection Officer will be responsible for the care of the baby.

Anupama’s father Jayachandran’s anticipatory bail application will be heard on November 24.  The court directed the Peroorkada police to produce a report in the case.  The Thiruvananthapuram Additional Sessions Court is considering the anticipatory bail application.  

Anupama had complained about the Peroorkada police, alleging that the mother had adopted the baby without her knowledge.  Based on the complaint, a case was registered against six persons, including Anupama’s father.  Anupama’s father, Jayachandran, is the first accused in the case.  

Earlier, two to six accused in the case were granted anticipatory bail with court conditions.  Jayachandran, his wife Smitha James, Anupama’s sister Anu, husband Arun and Jayachandran’s friends Ramesh and Anil Kumar are the six accused.