A drug-addict couple from Akbarpur Khudal village in Punjab&rsquo;s Mansa district allegedly sold their five-month-old son to a family in Budhlada town for ₹1.8 lakh to fund their drug addiction.
The incident came to light after the infant&rsquo;s maternal aunt approached the police, seeking help to reunite the child with his biological parents.
According to sources, the child&rsquo;s 19-year-old mother, once a state-level wrestler, fell into drug addiction after marrying her husband, who was already addicted. 
The couple, who met on Instagram, now live in dire poverty, cooking meals on the floor of their house&rsquo;s verandah.
Sources added that the money from the sale was spent on drugs, some household items, and reclaiming a mortgaged motorcycle. 
&ldquo;We pleaded with them several times to change their ways, but they refused,&rdquo; said the husband of the village sarpanch.
District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Harjinder Kaur confirmed the case. 
&ldquo;We have verified through reliable sources that the couple handed over their child to a family in Budhlada about a month ago.&nbsp;Both families even signed a document they called an "adoption letter". Our teams are collecting more information,&rdquo; she said.
Kaur added that due to the couple&rsquo;s addiction and unstable condition, the child cannot be immediately returned to them. 
&ldquo;The final decision on whether the child stays with the current family or is taken into our custody will be made by higher authorities. However, we currently lack the infrastructure to care for such children,&rdquo; she stated.
Budhlada DSP Sikander Singh Cheema said an investigation was underway, and both families had been called in for questioning. 
&ldquo;The child was unwell, and the family currently caring for him has been providing treatment. The biological parents have one son, while the family caring for the baby has three daughters,&rdquo; he said.
Punjab Minister for Women and Child Development Dr. Baljit Kaur said she had directed a team to investigate the case. 
&ldquo;If it is confirmed that the drug-addict parents sold their child, they will be declared unfit guardians, and custody will not be returned to them. Further action will also be taken against them,&rdquo; she said.

Punjab couple sells 5-month-old son for ₹1.8 lakh to fund drug addiction; probe underway

Drug-Addict Couple Sells Infant For ₹1.8L

Punjab couple sells 5-month-old son for ₹1.8 lakh to fund drug addiction; probe underway

October 25, 2025 | 10:56 IST