SC Issues Notice in Alleged Newborn Swapping Case in Raipur Hospital
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Chhattisgarh government and two doctors in response to a petition alleging that a newborn was swapped at a private hospital in Raipur.
A bench comprising Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan noted that the issue “requires consideration” and directed the Raipur Superintendent of Police, Khamardih Police Station, gynaecologist Dr. Neeraj Pehlajani, and Mata Laxmi Nursing Home Director Dr. Sameer Pehlajani to respond within four weeks.
According to the petition, Usha Singh gave birth to a boy and a girl at Mata Laxmi Nursing Home in 2023, but the hospital discharged the couple with two baby girls. A subsequent DNA test confirmed that only one of the children was biologically theirs, while the other did not match either parent. The petition described the incident as a “clear case of child swapping.”
Before approaching the Supreme Court, the petitioners had petitioned the Chhattisgarh High Court in 2024 seeking registration of an FIR and recovery of their missing child. They also prayed for directions to hand over custody of the “kidnapped child”.
However, a bench led by Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha, in its order passed in January this year, dismissed the plea. The Chhattisgarh High Court took note of an inquiry report prepared by a six-member committee of doctors, which found hospital records in order and "no proof or evidence of any kind submitted by the complainant regarding child theft".
Rejecting the plea, it had said: "We do not find any good ground to interfere with the case. Petitioners are at liberty to take recourse to law, if they so advised."
Challenging the dismissal, the couple filed a special leave petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court, arguing that the Chhattisgarh High Court had failed to consider whether the DNA findings had been properly investigated and whether their complaint warranted a criminal probe.
Agreeing to examine the matter, the apex court ordered: "Matter requires consideration. Issue notice to the Respondents, returnable in four weeks."
Dr Bhumika Maikhuri is a Consultant Orthodontist at Sanjeevan Hospital, Delhi. She is also working as a Correspondent and a Medical Writer at Medical Dialogues. She completed her BDS from Dr D Y patil dental college and MDS from Kalinga institute of dental sciences. Apart from dentistry, she has a strong research and scientific writing acumen. At Medical Dialogues, She focusses on medical news, dental news, dental FAQ and medical writing etc.