The Court was hearing a bail application filed by a man (applicant) booked under Section 370 (trafficking of persons) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 80 and 81 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
In this case, the parents of a one-year-old child (co-accused), who were financially poor, were alleged to have “sold” the child to the applicant-accused for around ₹4 lakhs.
The parents claimed that the child was supposed to be featured in films and that it was for this reason that the money was exchanged, although no such film was shot.
On the other hand, the applicant denied having exchanged any money to take possession of the child and said that he and his partner had only wished to take care of a child since LGBTQ couples are presently not legally allowed to adopt children in India.
A first information report (FIR) accusing the applicant of trafficking the child was lodged by the police on information by a sub-inspector after the child’s parents approached the police.
The applicant-accused was arrested after some enquiries were made and had been in judicial custody since May 26, 2024. He later filed a bail application before the High Court.
Source: Barandbench
