Court sends 4-yr-old to balashram after biological, foster moms battle over custody

A court in Ganjam district has sent a four-year-old child to a childcare home after a dispute arose between two women over the custody of the minor. The kid was sent to a childcare home in BNPur of Berhampur following the court's order.

The two women have been identified as Geeta Das, the child’s biological mother and Suneeta Behera, who is claiming to have adopted the child.

While Das claimed that Behera had stolen the child from her after delivery, Behera on the other hand, claimed that Das had in fact handed over the child to her just two months after delivery requesting her to adopt the child.

“Das and her husband kept me with them after the delivery of their child. One day when we all went to the market, the couple suddenly disappeared from there leaving me with the child. I went to their home searching for them, but the home was locked and there was nobody. Since then I have adopted the child and taken care of the kid,” said Behera.

Meanwhile, the child’s biological mother, Das alleged, “Behera had thrown away my child after birth. My husband asked her to bring it back. Now after four years, she (Behera) is claiming to be her mother.”

A case was registered in this regard with the police, following which the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) had directed the child to stay with the adopting mother (Suneeta Behera).

However, after hearing the case, SDJM of Berhampur ordered the police to send the child to the nearest children’s home until the hearing is completed.

Speaking about the case, Berhampur SP, Saravana Vivek M said, “Prima facie, it does not look like a child theft case because no complaints were registered for four years by either party.”

“The court has ordered to keep the child at a Children’s home. Our investigation will continue side by side,” the SP said.