Delhi Police bust child trafficking ring, rescue 5 newborns; 12 arrested
Synopsis
Delhi Police have cracked open a cross-state baby-trafficking ring, rescuing five newborns as young as five days old. The alleged kingpin ran a nursing home and claimed to be a doctor — forged birth records were the gang's tool, and lakhs of rupees the price for each infant sold. Twelve arrests span Delhi and Rajasthan, and the investigation is widening.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police busted an inter-state child trafficking syndicate on 18 June , rescuing five newborns aged five days to four months .
12 accused have been arrested across Delhi and Rajasthan , including alleged kingpin Viveki Kapoor , a nursing home owner.
The gang allegedly forged birth records and sold infants to prospective parents for lakhs of rupees ; some babies were reportedly sold in Haryana .
Police are verifying whether Viveki Kapoor holds valid medical credentials; interrogation of all accused is ongoing.
Last month, a separate trafficking racket in Chakradharpur, Jharkhand was busted, rescuing 36 labourers and 6 minors .
Delhi Police have dismantled an inter-state child trafficking syndicate, rescuing five newborns aged between five days and four months and arresting 12 accused, including the alleged kingpin, in a coordinated operation spanning Delhi and Rajasthan. The crackdown, announced on 18 June, marks one of the more significant baby-trafficking busts in the capital region in recent memory.
How the Syndicate Operated
According to investigators, the gang allegedly sourced newborns from other states by tampering with and forging birth records. The infants were then allegedly sold to prospective parents for lakhs of rupees per child. Some of the babies were reportedly sold in Haryana as well, pointing to a distribution network that stretched across at least three states.
The Alleged Kingpin and Her Nursing Home
The alleged ringleader, identified as Viveki Kapoor, is the owner of a nursing home and claimed to hold medical qualifications. Police are currently verifying her credentials and whether she is a licensed doctor. Her nursing home is believed to have served as an operational hub for the racket. Interrogation of all 12 accused is ongoing.
Arrests and Rescue Operation
The 12 arrests were made across Delhi and Rajasthan. The five rescued newborns — ranging from just five days old to four months — have been placed in the care of authorities. Officials have not yet disclosed the states from which the infants were originally sourced, as the investigation remains active.
Broader Pattern of Trafficking Rackets
This bust comes amid a broader pattern of trafficking crackdowns across India. Last month, police in Chakradharpur, Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, dismantled a separate human trafficking racket, rescuing 36 labourers and six minor children — five boys and one girl — from a hotel where they were allegedly being prepared for transport to Gujarat. A joint team comprising police, the Labour Department, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), and Childline conducted that raid on a tip-off. A bus belonging to a travel company, reportedly meant to ferry the victims, was also seized. The rescued minors were handed over to Childline Chaibasa on the directions of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
What Happens Next
Delhi Police are expected to expand the probe to identify other members of the network and trace additional victims. Investigators are also pursuing the financial trail to establish how payments were routed. The case is likely to draw scrutiny of regulatory oversight over private nursing homes, given that the alleged kingpin operated one as a front for the racket.
Point of View
Where birth record issuance is loosely monitored. Forged documentation is the backbone of baby-trafficking networks; without a centralised, tamper-proof birth registration system, dismantling one ring simply displaces the trade. The cross-state spread — Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and sourcing from unnamed states — also exposes the limits of state-level policing. Two major trafficking busts within a month suggest either a surge in activity or improved intelligence-sharing; the distinction matters for policy. The real accountability question is not just who sold the babies, but which institutions — hospitals, nursing homes, registration offices — enabled the forgeries.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Delhi Police uncover in the child trafficking bust?
Delhi Police dismantled an inter-state syndicate that allegedly bought and sold newborns by forging birth records, rescuing five infants aged five days to four months. Twelve people, including alleged kingpin Viveki Kapoor, were arrested across Delhi and Rajasthan.
Who is Viveki Kapoor and what is her alleged role?
Viveki Kapoor is the owner of a nursing home who claimed to be a doctor and is identified as the alleged kingpin of the trafficking ring. Police are currently verifying her medical credentials as part of the ongoing investigation.
How were the babies allegedly trafficked?
According to investigators, the gang sourced newborns from other states, tampered with and forged their birth records, and then allegedly sold them to prospective parents for lakhs of rupees. Some infants were reportedly sold in Haryana.
Is this part of a wider trafficking trend in India?
The Delhi bust follows a separate trafficking crackdown last month in Chakradharpur, Jharkhand, where 36 labourers and six minors were rescued from a hotel before they could allegedly be transported to Gujarat. The two cases point to active inter-state trafficking networks operating across multiple regions.
What happens to the rescued newborns?
The five rescued newborns have been placed in the care of authorities. Delhi Police have not yet disclosed further details about their placement, as the investigation remains active and the probe is being expanded to identify additional victims.
