Maharashtra – In a deeply disturbing case that has shaken Mumbai, police have successfully rescued a 5-year-old girl who was kidnapped from Santacruz East and sold for ₹1.8 lakh. The Mumbai child kidnapping sold investigation led to the arrest of five individuals, including the victim’s own maternal aunt and uncle, exposing a heinous human trafficking network that operated across the city.
Mother’s Desperate Plea Triggers Investigation
The shocking Mumbai child kidnapping sold case began unfolding when the child’s mother approached Vakola police station around 12:30 pm on Saturday, reporting that her daughter had been kidnapped. The distressed mother’s complaint immediately triggered a serious police response, with authorities registering a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Given the gravity of the offense and the vulnerability of the victim, police authorities recognized the urgency of the situation and mobilized substantial resources to locate the missing child before any further harm could come to her.
Massive Police Operation Launched
Understanding the severity of the Mumbai child kidnapping sold case, seven specialized police teams were formed under Zone 8’s crime detection officer. For two continuous days, these teams worked relentlessly, scanning extensive CCTV footage from the Santacruz East area and following up on confidential tip-offs that came through various channels.
The investigation proved challenging as the teams had to piece together fragmented information and track movements across multiple locations. The dedication of the officers and their methodical approach would ultimately prove crucial in cracking the case and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Breakthrough: Suspicious Autorickshaw Identified
The turning point in the Mumbai child kidnapping sold investigation came when police successfully identified a suspicious autorickshaw despite not having its registration number initially. Through painstaking analysis of CCTV footage and witness testimonies, investigators discovered that the autorickshaw had traveled from Panvel to Mumbai.
Further examination of surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts revealed that a couple had been traveling with the young girl on Saturday. “We received information that a motorcyclist and two other suspects were also patrolling the area along with the couple who kidnapped the girl,” confirmed an officer from Vakola police station, indicating the organized nature of this criminal operation.
Driver’s Arrest Unlocks the Case
Since the autorickshaw registration number was unavailable, police faced significant challenges in tracking down the vehicle. However, based on persistent intelligence gathering and tip-offs, investigators successfully located and arrested the autorickshaw driver in Vakola on Monday. This arrest proved to be the breakthrough that unraveled the entire Mumbai child kidnapping sold conspiracy.
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The driver’s interrogation revealed shocking information: the child was familiar with her kidnappers because they were none other than her maternal relatives. This betrayal by family members added another layer of tragedy to the already horrific crime.
Family Members’ Shocking Betrayal
The investigation exposed that the Mumbai child kidnapping sold plot involved the victim’s own maternal uncle, Lawrence Nickles Fernandes, 42, and aunt, Mangal Dagdu Jadhav, 38. The duo was arrested on Tuesday from Vitthalwadi, and during interrogation, they confessed to selling the innocent child to a man named Karan Sanas for ₹90,000.
This revelation of family involvement shocked investigators and highlighted the depths to which the perpetrators had sunk in their criminal enterprise, exploiting the trust and familiarity the child had with them.
Trafficking Chain Exposed
As the Mumbai child kidnapping sold investigation progressed, police traced Karan Sanas to Urali Budruk in New Panvel and arrested him. Further interrogation revealed an even more disturbing trafficking chain. Sanas had resold the young girl to two women, Vrinda Vinesh Chavan, 60, and Anjali Ajit Korgaonkar, 57, for ₹1.80 lakh—double what he had paid for her.
This price escalation revealed the commercial nature of the child trafficking operation and suggested a potential network of buyers willing to pay substantial amounts for children.
Successful Rescue Operation
Following the leads obtained from Sanas’s interrogation, police traced the two women involved in the final transaction of the Mumbai child kidnapping sold case. Officers located Vrinda Vinesh Chavan’s residence in Panvel, where they successfully rescued the 5-year-old girl on Tuesday.
The child was found physically unharmed and was immediately reunited with her mother, bringing an end to the family’s traumatic ordeal. The reunion marked a successful conclusion to the intensive police operation that had worked around the clock for several days.
All Perpetrators Behind Bars
“We have arrested all those involved in the kidnapping and selling of the girl,” confirmed the investigating officer, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the police action. The five arrests in the Mumbai child kidnapping sold case include the autorickshaw driver, the aunt and uncle, and the two women who ultimately purchased the child.
Legal Proceedings Ahead
All five accused in the Mumbai child kidnapping sold case now face serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the POCSO Act. These stringent laws ensure that child trafficking and exploitation cases receive the serious treatment they deserve in the judicial system.
The successful resolution of this Mumbai child kidnapping sold case demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated police work and sends a strong message that such heinous crimes against children will be pursued vigorously and perpetrators will face the full force of the law.
