Cuttack: SCB Medical College and Hospital has launched an inquiry following a petition alleging the sale of 14 newborns from the hospital between 2019 and 2025.The probe was launched after the office of the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC), Central Range, sent a grievance petition seeking an inquiry and an action taken report. The petition claimed the children had been born mostly to destitute and mentally unsound women.SCB superintendent Jyotish Choudhury said after the hospital received the RDC’s order, it has initiated a detailed probe. “All records from the past six years are being thoroughly examined. Appropriate action will follow based on the findings,” Choudhury said on Monday.A letter on April 20, issued by Sanjeev Hansdah, undersecretary to the RDC, was sent to SCB Medical College and Hospital with the petition filed RTI activist Achyuta Sahoo, ordering a probe.The cases relate to infants born in the obstetrics and gynaecology department of the hospital, whose custody details and follow-up records were allegedly said to be missing. Most of the mothers were reportedly mentally challenged or destitute, and their hospitalisation was facilitated by social workers or unidentified persons.The development has raised concern as such newborns, as per protocol, are required to be handed over to authorised childcare institutions in coordination with Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and the district child protection officer (DCPO).Alleging serious violations of procedure, Sahoo claimed that some newborns were handed over to individuals who had brought the women for treatment, raising the possibility of illegal adoption or trafficking.Deputy commissioner of police Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo said the matter spans six years and each case would need to be verified individually. “We are collecting information. If any criminal angle emerges, the police will investigate and take action as per law,” he said.Asked how he came about the number of missing children, Sahoo said it was gleaned from several RTI applications and on the basis of inquiries made by a team of activists, who have been following the matter over the past few years. “Since the victims are vulnerable, there is hardly any chance of them complaining in most cases,” Sahoo said. He further alleged that the infants may have been sold to unidentified persons.
