Indian media have claimed that a couple living in the state of West Bengal in India sold their eight-month-old kid to pay for their vacation and the purchase of an iPhone so that they could create material for the social media platform Instagram.
Residents took note of the couple’s recent purchase of a brand-new phone, which prompted local authorities to take action, according to a story in the Indian Express that cited officials from the local police department.
The World Bank has brought attention to areas of West Bengal with exceptionally high poverty rates, which most certainly contributes to suspicions in situations like this. According to 2022 PRS Legislative Research research, the region’s GDP per capita, which is a measure of income, was around $1,600 at that time. This figure is more significant than the nation’s cost of a brand-new iPhone 14.
According to a police officer who The Indian Express reported, the persons involved have been named Jaydev Ghosh and Sathi. Priyanka Ghosh, who resides in the exact location, was the purchaser of the infant, according to the police.
After being questioned further, the mother admitted that she was responsible for the crime, stating that she and her partner planned to use the stolen funds to travel around the state and produce videos for Instagram Reels.
The police had taken both Priyanka and the child’s mother into custody, according to the newspaper article.
The authorities were able to retrieve the infant effectively. The police also stated that the baby’s father had tried to sell his older kid, who was seven at the time, but the scheme had not been successful. According to the report, the father has managed to elude law enforcement and is currently classified as a fugitive.