Maid lends womb to childless couple, refuses to give baby

GHAZIABAD - A 20-year-old maid of a childless couple agreed to become the surrogate mother to their child. But, after giving birth to the baby, the maid had a change of heart and refused to hand over the infant and was allegedly beaten by the couple.

The couple approached the police to get their baby back from the maid. The police have allowed the maid to keep the baby for the time being.

The incident occurred in the Govindpuram area of Ghaziabad.

According to police, Naveen Pandit (35) alias Bobby, a job consultant, was married to Nisha about six years back they did not have a child. The couple then decided to rope in their maid, Neetu Srivastava, who was staying with them, to bear their child as a surrogate mother.

As per their mutual agreement, the couple paid Neetu about Rs.50,000 to lend her womb. But after giving birth to her baby, a boy, Neetu refused to part with the baby and decided to keep the child with herself.

An upset Neetu told reporters: I somehow came to terms with the situation and started living with the couple. When my baby was six days old, they forcefully snatched him from me at the hospital. I was still ready to live with them but the woman started beating me up. Recently, when I asked for my baby to take him along to my mother’s home in Jehangirpuri, Delhi, they refused to hand the baby to me.

Naveen Pandit could not be contacted throughout the day.

Kavi Nagar Inspector In-charge - Rajesh Chaudhary said: The two women had approached us with their respective complaints. Neetu told us that she was the mother of the baby so we allowed Neetu to take away her child to her home until Naveen gets a separate accommodation for her at his own house. We are still investigating the matter.