Drug-addict couple in Punjab’s Mansa sells 5-month-old son for Rs 1.8 lakh

A drug-addict couple from Akbarpur Khudal village in the Budhlada subdivision of Punjab’s Mansa district allegedly sold their five-month-old son to a family in Budhlada town for Rs 1.8 lakh to “fund their addiction”.

The case came to light after the child’s maternal aunt approached the police, seeking help to reunite the infant with his biological parents.

Sources said the child’s 19-year-old mother was once a state-level wrestler, but her husband’s addiction pushed the family into despair. Over time, she too got hooked to drugs. The couple, who met on Instagram, now live in penury, with a makeshift kitchen set up on the floor of their house’s verandah.

The sources said the couple used the money to buy drugs, a few household goods and to reclaim their mortgaged motorcycle. “We requested them several times to mend their ways, but they didn’t budge,” said the village sarpanch’s husband.

District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Harjinder Kaur confirmed the development. “We have verified from reliable sources that the drug-addict couple handed over their child to a family in Budhlada about a month ago. Both families even signed a document, which they termed an ‘adoption letter’. Our teams are now gathering more details,” she said.

The DCPO said given the couple’s condition and addiction, the child could not be immediately returned to them due to safety concerns. “The final decision on whether the child remains with the family that adopted him or is taken into our custody will rest with the higher authorities. However, we currently lack infrastructure for such care,” she said.

Budhlada DSP Sikander Singh Cheema said the case was under investigation and both families had been summoned for questioning. “The child was unwell and the family that has been taking care of him for about a month arranged for his treatment. The biological parents have only one son while the family currently taking care of the child has three daughters,” said Cheema.

Talking to The Tribune, Punjab Minister for Women and Child Development Dr Baljit Kaur said, “I will send a team to investigate the matter. If the child was sold by the drug-addict parents, they will be declared unfit guardians and the custody will not be returned to them. Besides, action will be taken against them.”

Punjab