Baby Theft In Odisha’s Nayagarah: Couple Admits Allegation Was False, Seeks Apology

Bhubaneswar: The couple, who had complained of theft of their newborn boy from a hospital in Odisha’s Nayaragarh district, has admitted that their allegation was false and they made the allegation as they wanted to escape “social stigma” of being issueless.

Speaking to media persons on Thursday, the couple, Bijay Kumar Jena and Madhusmita Jena of Godbhanga village under Bolgarh block of Khurda district, said they did not have any children for a long time after marriage. They consulted several doctors in this regard, but there was no result.

They finally decided to stage a drama to show that Madhusmita had given birth to a baby but it was stolen soon after. As per their plan, they went to the community health centre (CHC) at Rajsunakhala under Ranpur block of Nayagarh on October 30.

They waited for some time on the verandah of Women and Maternity department in the first floor of the hospital. Later, they went ground floor and started claiming that their newborn son was stolen.

As the media highlighted the incident and the news spread fast, the CHC authorities started their own investigation. Meanwhile, the couple also lodged a complaint in this regard at the local police station.

After verification of CCTV and other records during investigation, the hospital authorities as well as police termed the allegation false and maintained that no such incident had taken place at the CHC.

Hospital Superintendent Jagdish Kumar Chandra even said the allegation was false and the woman concerned who brought the allegation, had not even got the OPD ticket. He further said they would lodge a police complaint against her for making the false allegation which tarnished the image of the hospital.

Alarmed by the development and fearing police action, the couple admitted their mistake. They sought apology from the CHC authorities, police and the people of the state for misleading them with false pretense on a sensitive issue like child theft.