Woman flees with newborn from hospital

A four-day-old baby girl was taken away from a private hospital in Madhavaram on Saturday by an unidentified woman who posed as a hospital employee.

Chennai Suburban Police sources said the incident took place at the St.Anthony's Hospital on Madhavaram High Road near Moolakadai. The baby was born on Wednesday to Kavitha (29), whose husband, Muralidharan (35), runs a fancy store in the Mint area.

The couple live on 1st Cross Street, Charles Nagar, Tiruvottiyur.

Speaking to

The Hindu , Muralidharan's brother Ramachandran said Kavitha was admitted on June 1 to the special ward no 133 at the hospital and the baby was delivered through a Caesarean section. The suspect, who is in her mid 30's, had befriended Kavitha's mother, Amudha (53), at the hospital and posed as a staff member.

“On Saturday around 10.30 a.m. the baby had to be taken to another ward upstairs for vaccination. Amudha took the baby,” he said. Amudha had difficulty in walking fast as she had undergone a surgery recently to remove a few toes. “The woman suspect offered to carry the baby back to the ward and fled with the infant before Amudha could catch up with her,” he added.

Following a complaint by Amudha, the Madhavaram police registered a case. A team, including senior police officials, is investigating the incident.