A child trafficking case in Madhya Pradesh has taken a disturbing turn after police revealed that a Rajgarh-based businessman and his wife had allegedly bought a two-and-a-half-year-old girl for nearly Rs 1 lakh before abandoning her on a national highway in Sheopur. The couple, who had initially claimed they had adopted the child, allegedly left her on the Tonk-Chirgaon National Highway after branding her “inauspicious”.

Police have arrested six people in the case, including the couple and an Indore-based beauty parlour operator, as investigators widen the probe into a suspected child trafficking network spanning multiple cities.

Couple Arrested in Case

Sheopur police identified the accused as petrol pump operator Akash Moondra and his wife Kritika Moondra. Investigators said the couple abandoned the child near Soikalan on April 18 and later admitted during questioning that they believed the girl had brought financial losses to their business.

According to officials, the couple told police they considered the child “unlucky” and left her outside in the hope that their business fortunes would improve. The child was found alone on the Tonk-Chirgaon stretch of National Highway-552 and was unable to identify herself or her family.

Indore Link Emerges

During investigation, police found that the child had not been adopted through any legal process. Instead, officials said she was allegedly procured through an Indore-based parlour operator who acted as a middle link in the transaction.

Sources indicated that the woman, along with other associates, arranged the transfer of the child to the couple in exchange for around Rs 1 lakh. Following this lead, Sheopur police formed three teams and carried out raids in Indore, leading to multiple arrests.

Police suspect the group may have been involved in trafficking children to families through illegal channels and are now examining whether similar transactions took place earlier.

Caretaker Made Disclosure

The case gathered pace after a Bhopal-based caretaker identified the child through photographs circulated on social media. Babita Navik, who claimed she had looked after the girl, told police she had cared for the child after the couple brought her home as an infant.

She told investigators the girl was around three months old when the couple took her in. Babita alleged that she had been hired to care for the child for Rs 20,000 a month, but was never paid in full. She also alleged that the child was routinely beaten inside the house.

According to her statement, the couple never disclosed where the child had come from or whether they had completed any formal adoption process.

Legal Probe Expands

Police presented the child before the Child Welfare Committee after she was rescued and later shifted her to a One Stop Centre for care and protection. Officials said the child remains under state protection.

Investigators have now added charges related to human trafficking and provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act. Police are also trying to establish the child’s biological identity and trace how she first entered the trafficking chain.

Officials said the probe is focused on identifying the original source of the child and determining whether the network sourced children from vulnerable families for illegal sale.

Family Distances Itself

Akash Moondra’s family has publicly distanced itself from him. His brother told local authorities that Akash had been living separately for nearly five years and had no regular contact with the family.

He said the family was unaware of when or how the child had been brought into Akash’s household. He also confirmed that Akash had suffered business setbacks in recent years and had shut some of his petrol pump operations.

Wider Questions Raised

The case has raised fresh concerns over illegal adoption rackets, weak oversight and child protection failures in Madhya Pradesh. It also highlights how superstition, unregulated child transfers and trafficking can intersect in deeply troubling ways.

Police are expected to examine records, financial trails and possible links to similar cases in other cities. As the child trafficking case unfolds, officials say more arrests are possible.

Seven Days, Five Deaths: Love Turns Fatal In Rajgarh

Five Suicides In Week

In a disturbing trend, five persons have ended their lives in Rajgarh district within a single week. All cases share a common link: failed romantic relationships. Police confirmed three separate incidents across Bhojpur police station limits. The pattern has left local authorities and families shocked.

Officials said the deceased included unmarried couples, married individuals in extramarital affairs, and a young father of a six-month-old. Three of the victims posted photos with their partners on social media hours before the extreme step.

Social Media Posts Before Death

The first case emerged on April 11 from Dhabli Khurd village. A 23-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were found hanging from a mahua tree. Before the act, the man shared a kissing picture with the woman on Instagram.

Police identified the deceased as Rakesh Tanwar and Dhapoo Bai Tanwar. Sources indicated the two were in a relationship for several months. Rakesh had tattooed “R” and “D” on his chest. His family was preparing for his wedding, scheduled just 15 days later.

Married Woman’s Complex Story

Dhapoo Bai was already married. Her father Mor Singh said she was wed at age 10-11 to Radheshyam of Patari village. Due to marital disputes, she had been living at her parental home for years. Her mother died four years ago.

Radheshyam, the legal husband, reached the spot after hearing the news. He told police that a panchayat had tried to settle the matter multiple times. “Her father filed a police complaint and took her back,” he said. The family confirmed that no compromise could be reached despite several attempts.

Second Incident: Parents Of Four

On April 14, another double suicide came to light from Durgpura hill area. A goat herder spotted two bodies hanging from a neem tree around 10 am. The deceased used a gamchha and a chunri to end their lives.

The victims were Chhainsingh Tanwar (37) and Maangibai (35), both residents of the same village. Officials confirmed both were married and had children. Chhainsingh was a father of four. Maangibai leaves behind a 10-year-old son.

Five-Year Affair Ends In Tragedy

Local sources said the couple had been in a relationship for nearly five years. About a year ago, they had run away from home. Families traced them to Rajasthan and brought them back. A panchayat and police counselling separated the couple after that.

Maangibai had been living in her maternal home for the last four months. On Monday, Chhainsingh left home saying he was going to Khilchipur. Maangibai also left her mother’s house without informing anyone. Empty liquor bottles were recovered from the spot.

Father With Infant Son Ends Life

The third incident took place on April 17 in Kherkheda village. A passerby spotted a young man hanging from a tree outside the village. The deceased was Ram Babu Tanwar (25), a married man with a six-month-old son.

Police said Ram Babu had posted a photo with a woman on Facebook before taking the step. A close friend, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed an ongoing relationship with the woman. The day before the incident, Ram Babu had attended a wedding function and appeared completely normal.

Former MLA Raises Alarm

Former Rajgarh MLA Bapu Singh Tanwar expressed deep concern over the rising cases. He pointed directly at the negative influence of social media reels and posts.

“Lack of awareness and education is causing young people to misinterpret these influences,” Tanwar told reporters. He called for large-scale awareness campaigns to prevent further tragedies. “We will also use mass marriage ceremonies to spread awareness,” he added.

What Next For The Region

Police have registered cases in all three incidents. Post-mortem reports confirmed suicide as the cause of death. No suicide notes have been recovered so far.

Local counsellors suggest that family pressure, lack of emotional support, and social media validation traps are pushing vulnerable youth to extreme steps. As per this English news portal India, mental health experts are now urging the district administration to launch helplines. A public interest story like this highlights the urgent need for intervention. Officials said community meetings will be held in villages over the next fortnight. This remains a trending news India alert for parents and educators alike.