Newborns racket: Officials verify 4,500 birth certificates

After the arrest of a duo in Rasipuram operating a racket that deals with selling newborns, officials have begun verifying nearly 4,500 birth certificates that were given by the Municipality.

The issue came to light after a recorded conversation was leaked on social media which had Amuthavalli, 50, a retired nursing assistant from Rasipuram Government Hospital, claiming she had been in the business for more than three decades.

Officials, part of the 12 teams formed to probe the case, apart from checking the birth certificates provided at Rasipuram are also checking another 1,000 certificates presented at Kollimalai.

Amudhavalli had claimed she can get a government birth certificate for Rs 70,000 in the audio clip.

According to sources, Amuthavalli said she and her husband Ravichandran have confessed regarding two deals made by them.

The Medical Services Department has also registered a complaint with the police about the former nursing assistant.

In the conversation, Amuthavalli explains to a man, who identifies himself as Sathish Kumar from Dharmapuri, about the the rates and other requirements for the transaction. “The rates would differ depending upon the gender, complexion and weight of the baby,” she says in the recorded audio.