Saluskar was called by the committee formed to look into the case of baby theft at Sion Hospital on January 1. Though Saluskar could not be present to give her version to the committee due to ill health of her baby, she gave her statement to the police.

According to the police statement, Saluskar recalled the accused as “a thin woman in a saree who looked heavily pregnant, wore a manglasutra and carried a plastic bag containing documents”.    

A resident of Matunga, Saluskar told Newsline, “The lady looked pregnant and was taking rounds in the post natal ward. No one from the hospital stopped her or questioned her. She first picked up a newborn of a woman named Kalpana while she was in the bathroom. However, when Kalpana suddenly came back, the woman told her that she was hushing the baby who was crying.”

She added, “When Kalpana told me about the incident, I suggested her to complain about it to any of the nurses. Since then we kept a watch on the accused. However, around 8 pm, some of us were called by the doctor with our babies for a check-up. While leaving I offered my bed to Mohini. That was the last time I saw the baby. After that I left to see the doctor.”

Saluskar said that within minutes of her leaving the ward she came to know of the baby theft incident.

She said, “I will go to give my statement as soon as my baby is fine. I want to help the couple.”

MUMBAI: The discharge papers obtained from the hospital by the Nerurkars ironically mentioned the weight and condition of the baby at the time of discharge. The undated discharge card mentioned the weight as 2.800 grams which is 300 grams more than the weight of the baby at the time of birth.

Also, the condition of the baby at the time of discharge was marked good even after the baby went missing.

“When the baby went missing, how can one fill the details regarding the weight and condition at the time of discharge? This points out that the hospital is either careless or is involved in the theft,” said Mohan Nerurkar, baby’s father.

“At the time of discharge the hospital prepares two discharge cards, one for the mother and one for the newborn. But if the baby is missing how one can fill in the details in the card? This shows the carelessness on the part of BMC,” said Ashish Chavhan, Nerurkar’s advocate.