Wadia hospital ups security even as parents wait for abducted baby

It has been over a week after the Naiks' lost their baby from Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity hospital and there is still no clue as to how the police are progressing in the investigations. The hospital management on the other hand has beefed up security and has also appointed an ex-IAS officer in-charge of the administration. While Jasmine Naik awaits the news of her lost baby being found, the police continue to hold on to their week-old statement of the investigations being underway.

Last week, on Wednesday (October 24), the one-day-old baby of Devdas and Jasmine Naik was kidnapped from the hospital ward. The family was completely shattered by the incident and since then has been waiting for the child to be found. According to sources, a senior police official had claimed that the baby would be found by Monday, October 29, but so far the police have not received any major clue to break the case.

Security at Wadia Hospital has been beefed up following theu00a0the kidnapping of a day-old baby. Pic/Naveen Nair

According to Senior Police Inspector Vikram Patil of Bhoiwada police station, four separate teams are investigating this case. Each team consists of a senior officer (assistant sub-inspector or sub-inspector) and four police constables who visit suspicious places to investigate about the stolen baby. These teams also rush to the spots from where rumors or a report of an abandoned baby is received. They are also targeting slum areas and other maternity hospitals to check for a newborn baby.

When asked about the progress in the investigation, Sr. PI Vikram Patil said, "Our police teams are thoroughly investigating the case and leaving no stones unturned. We are also targeting these tantriks and trying to trace the families who approach these babas for a newborn baby. We have not found any major clue so far in this case but we are doing our best to solve this case at the earliest."

On the other hand, management at Wadia hospital has beefed up its security after several media reports highlighted its inadequacy. Every relative of a patient or a new patient is now required to make an entry at the main gate and only then proceed into the hospital building. Around 4 guards have been posted at the main gate and 3 more have been posted at the building entrance. Every ward also has one private security guard.

Apart from this, sources at the hospital confirmed that Ex-IAS Chandra Iyengar, who has previously handled several important portfolios, has been appointed to monitor administrative as well as day-to-day activities of the hospital. Though MiD DAY has a copy of the letter declaring her appointment, when contacted Iyengar denied these claims. She said, "I am not a part of the management. I am just providing my expert help to the management of Wadia hospital. I cannot comment on this issue."

MiD DAY also got access to an email, dated October 1, 2012, that was allegedly sent by chief accountant and secretary Chandrashekhar Lad of the Wadia group of hospitals to Siddiq Khan, the officer on special duty (OSD), and employees stating that purchases and services of even Re.1 could not be made without the prior approval of hospital trustee and Wadia Group chairman Ness Wadia.

Despite being contacted, bothu00a0Chandrashekhar Lad and Siddiq Khan refused to respond on the issue. Even the Wadia Hospital PR was unavailable for comments. u00a0

The email from trustee Ness Wadia

Contents of the email:

As per the order received by Mr. Ness Wadia all procurement is to be kept on hold till further orders are received.

Purchases of materials and services of even Re 1 should not be made without prior approval of Mr Ness Wadia.

No payment will be made by the Accounts Department unless the purchase is approved by Mr Ness Wadia.
u00a0