Chennai: A nurse working in a private maternity clinic in the city was arrested on Monday for selling a child born in the clinic after claiming to the child’s parents that the baby was stillborn. The accused, S. Jayanthi, runs a clinic at Sathyavani Muthu Nagar at Ennore and was offers consultation for pregnant women, the police said. Recently, a couple, Karthikeyan-Sangeetha of Kollimedu, Avadi, approached her for consultation when she referred them to another maternity clinic in Tiruvottiyur.

On May 8, Sangeetha gave birth to a girl child, prematurely, in the clinic. However, after the birth, the nurse told the parents that the child was stillborn. “To substantiate her version, she showed them something like a doll telling them it was their child,” said a police officer. Though the couple believed Jayanthi’s version initially, they grew suspicious over time. “In addition to that, the doctor, too, enquired with couple and their family as to why are they were around even after childbirth and told them that they can be discharged.

This added to the suspicion,” said Tiruvottiyur inspector, R. Senthil Kumar (in-charge), adding that the nurse used to recommend patients to the clinic from time to time and the doctor did not suspect any foul play. Subsequently, the family approached the Tiruvottiyur police station with a complaint after which Jayanthi’s activities came to light. “The woman had sold the child to another couple from Kasimedu. That couple’s child was stillborn and they approached Jayanthi to get them a child,” said a police officer.

The child was admitted to government Stanley hospital for treatment as it was born premature. After arbitration by the cops, the child was handed over to Sangeetha. The Tiruvottiyur police registered a case and arrested Jayanthi, a first-time offender. She was remanded in judicial custody. “The couple who brought the child are also under investigation. The cash exchanged between them is still not clear,” said a police officer.