Munni Khatoon was found in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, and had identified the child in the photograph shown to her, police said.

According to police, Munni is a “victim” and was “lured into marrying a man” in Rajasthan by Laxmi and Kanta who have been arrested.

Munni, police said, had three children from her first marriage to one Mohammed Shah Hussain and lived in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. She left Hussain after they fell out over his activities.

Laxmi and Kanta, police said, lured Munni into coming to Delhi and made her give up her children so that she could marry the man in Rajasthan. Her other two children — a five-year-old boy and a three-and-half-year-old girl — are yet to be traced.

According to police, Munni was introduced to Laxmi by one Shankar who was a friend of her first husband.

“Laxmi repeatedly called Munni and promised her a better life in the city. While in Muzaffarpur, Munni was asked to meet some of Laxmi’s relatives who advised her to go to Delhi. Once in Delhi, Laxmi and her associates — Kanta Chowdhary and Saroj — lured her into marrying a man from Rajasthan,” said Chhaya Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South).

Sharma said Munni’s second husband — they married last September — did not know her real identity. He had no clue that she was married and had children. Sharma said when he learnt of her background, he kept quiet, fearing social ostracism.

Police said the two women had “extorted Rs 3 lakh” from Munni’s second husband.

“We are treating Munni as a victim in this case. When she handed her three children to Laxmi she was under the impression that they would be given proper care and attention. In fact, last week Munni called Laxmi to inquire about her children. Laxmi told her they were fine. She asked her to steal whatever she could from her husband’s house and flee,” Sharma said.