A total of 27 individuals have been arrested in the trafficking operation. Ten infants, including six girls and four boys, have been rescued, while efforts continue to locate and rescue 11 more
Published Mar 19, 2025 | 5:10 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 19, 2025 | 5:10 PM
Hyderabad ASHA worker uncovered as Kingpin in interstate infant trafficking racket
Synopsis: Rachakonda police in Telangana busted a child trafficking ring, arresting 11 individuals for illegally procuring four infants from Ahmedabad and selling them to families in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The infants were rescued and sent to a government home. The investigation revealed a larger trafficking network, with an ASHA worker from an Area Hospital identified as the kingpin, along with Kola Krishnaveni.
The Rachakonda police in Hyderabad on Tuesday, 18 March, arrested the kingpin of an interstate child trafficking racket, which was busted by them on 25 February.
On 25 February, the police arrested 11 individuals involved in procuring and selling infants illegally.
The arrested suspects were part of an interstate trafficking racket, selling babies for ₹3-6 lakh, with prices varying based on gender.
The operation saw the rescue of four infants — two boys and two girls — who had been trafficked from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and sold to families in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The infants were transported across state borders by two intermediaries and sold to needy parents through facilitators in Hyderabad.
Following a detailed investigation, the police uncovered the involvement of multiple individuals, including a key player in the racket: Kola Krishnaveni.
A former medical representative who had been previously arrested for child trafficking in 2024, Krishnaveni’s involvement led the police to discover a much larger network.
The investigation revealed that this network was being run by a woman named Amulya, an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) worker from Malakpet, Hyderabad, who acted as the kingpin of the trafficking operation.
Amulya’s connections with key figures in the illegal trade, including Krishnaveni and Deepthi, enabled her to procure and sell infants.
The total number of trafficked infants identified in the case rose to 25, with the police successfully rescuing 10 more infants during the ongoing investigation. At least 11 infants are still missing, and efforts continue to locate and recover them.
According to the police, Krishnaveni admitted to procuring and selling several infants, including a baby girl who had been sold to a family. Deepthi, another key figure in the racket, also confessed to being involved in procuring and selling 10 infants, including four boys and six girls.
Through this network, the infants were sold across various states including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
Amulya, originally from Malakpet in Hyderabad, started working as an ASHA worker after completing her schooling up to the 10th standard.
In 2011, she married Mallesh, a driver by profession, and had two daughters. However, marital issues led to her husband leaving her, and she began living independently with her children. Amulya’s entry into the illegal infant trafficking business came through her work as an ASHA worker.
While working in this capacity, Amulya met Ismail, a supervisor at the Area Hospital in Malakpet, who introduced her to the world of infant trafficking.
Ismail promised Amulya easy money in exchange for helping him identify childless parents. In 2022, Amulya assisted Ismail in the illegal procurement and sale of an infant boy to her relative, Kotha Sugunamma, who had been unable to conceive.
This transaction resulted in a profit of ₹30,000 for Amulya and Ismail.
Amulya’s involvement in trafficking deepened as she came into contact with Kola Krishnaveni and Deepthi, who further expanded the scope of her illegal operations.
Amulya began procuring and selling infants on her own and in collaboration with Deepthi. She also established connections with other traffickers across the states, utilising social media to extend her reach.
By the time of her arrest on 18 March 2025, Amulya had been implicated in trafficking 18 infants — eight on her own and 10 with Deepthi.
During her police custody, Amulya confessed to her involvement in trafficking, leading to the identification of additional cases. In total, Amulya had been involved in the illegal sale of 18 infants, with four of them rescued during the investigation.
The police investigation revealed that the trafficked infants came from multiple locations across India, including Mumbai (Maharashtra), Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), and Hyderabad (Telangana).
They were then sold in various cities, including Kolkata (West Bengal), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Bangalore (Karnataka), Hyderabad (Telangana), and Guntur (Andhra Pradesh).
The prices at which the infants were bought and sold depended largely on their gender. Female infants were purchased for ₹2-3 lakh and sold for ₹3-4 lakh, while male infants were bought for ₹4-5 lakh and sold for ₹5-6 lakh.
The trafficking ring operated with a clear profit margin, exploiting vulnerable families desperate for children.
As of now, a total of 27 individuals have been arrested in connection with this widespread trafficking operation. Ten infants have been rescued, including six girls and four boys.
The police are continuing their efforts to locate and rescue the remaining 11 infants, as they work to dismantle the broader trafficking network and bring the perpetrators to justice.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Sumit Jha)
