Gujarat Court Sentences Couple to Three Years for Abandoning Newborn Daughter
Ahmedabad, 24th February 2025: A sessions court in Gujarat’s Mehsana district has sentenced a couple to three years in prison for abandoning their newborn daughter near a public toilet in Ambaliyasan town, leading to her death five years ago.
The court found Prakashji Thakor and his wife Chetna guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, child abandonment, and abetment. The case, which dates back to February 21, 2020, highlights ongoing concerns about female infanticide and gender bias in society.
According to the prosecution, the couple did not wish to keep the baby girl. “Chetna had taken multiple abortion pills before giving birth, indicating a clear intent to terminate the pregnancy,” an official involved in the case stated.
Despite their actions, the newborn was found alive near the public toilet and was immediately rushed to the hospital. However, she succumbed to health complications four days later.
Following a thorough investigation, police registered an FIR against the couple, ultimately leading to their conviction. While the maximum punishment for such offenses can extend up to 10 years, the court considered the fact that the couple has two other children and exercised leniency in sentencing.
During the trial, the couple argued that the child was stillborn and had been abandoned under distressing circumstances. However, the court dismissed this claim, citing medical reports and witness statements that confirmed the baby was born alive.
