Mumbai: Auto driver finds eight-day-old baby in his vehicle

Auto driver discovers eight-day-old girl left in his vehicle at the Vasai railway station, has to go to multiple police stations before an FIR is lodged; baby is admitted to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli

Sunil Bhile found the baby (right) in his auto at Vasai railway station

An ordinary day turned extraordinary for a 26-year-old auto driver when in the midst of running an errand for a friend, he landed up with the custody of an 8-day-old baby girl.

On Monday evening, Sunil Bhile, a rickshaw driver from Virar was at the Vasai railway station to receive parents of a friend and had parked at an ST stand. Figuring that the train was running late though, he returned to his auto. “I found a wrapped clothes bundle on the passenger’s seat and when I opened it, I saw this cute girl sleeping inside. I asked around and inquired if she was anyone’s baby, but no one came forward,” Bhile said.

Also Read: Mumbai: Stolen infant found a day later in local train

Bundle of joy
“I immediately took her to the Virar police station but the duty officer there told me that the complaint could only be registered at the Manikpur police station since the girl was found in their jurisdiction. By this time, it was 7.30 pm, so I rushed there and told the officer what had transpired,” he said.

Baby in good condition
The officer there, Bhile added, took immediate action and registered an FIR, following which the baby was admitted to the Vasai Virar Mahanagar Palika Hospital and later transferred to the Shatabdi Hospital for better care. He said she is now stable and healthy.

Read Story: Stuck in traffic gridlock, Mumbai woman gives birth in auto

Cop speak
Police sub-inspector Archana Koli of Mankipur police station said, “We have registered an FIR against unknown persons under Section 317 (Exposure and abandonment of child under twelve years, by parent or person having care of it) of the IPC and are investigating the case. We are going through the CCTV camera footage near the railway station as well as the ST stand to get some clue about the accused woman or person who abandoned the baby. The girl, meanwhile, is in a good condition and is admitted to the Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli. We are now looking for an orphanage to shelter the baby.”

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!