Child selling racket busted in Udupi, doctor among three arrested
Udupi (PTI): Udupi district police have arrested three persons, including a doctor, for their alleged involvement in the illegal sale of a newborn girl, officials said on Wednesday.
The case surfaced when a couple, identified as Prabhavati and Ramesh Moolya of Kallugudde in Kaup taluk, attempted to register a four-day-old infant at an anganwadi under the Poshan Tracker scheme, they said.
The anganwadi worker, suspecting irregularities, questioned the couple, who admitted that the child was not theirs, police said.
According to police, the baby, born on August 3 at a hospital in Mangaluru to an unmarried woman, was bought for Rs 4.5 lakh. The deal was facilitated through Prabhavati's cousin Priyanka, who was aware of the woman's delivery.
Following a complaint, Shirva police booked the case under relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice Act and that of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
During investigation, police arrested Dr Somesh Solomon, Vijayalakshmi alias Vijaya, and Navneet Narayan. All three accused reportedly confessed to their involvement during interrogation. They were produced before court and sent to judicial custody, a senior police officer said.
Officials said further investigation is being carried out to identify other individuals who may be connected to the racket.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Brazil's Ancelotti raises doubts about whether Neymar will reach the 2026 World Cup
Sao Paulo (AP): Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti raised doubts about whether Neymar will be in his squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Italian has yet to pick the former captain since he took over in May.
“If Neymar deserves to be (in the squad), if he is, well, better than others, he will play in the World Cup and that's it. (But) I don't have debts to anyone,” Ancelotti said at a press conference in Washington on Friday following the draw.
Brazil is in Group C with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.
“If we speak about Neymar, we have to speak about other players,” Ancelotti added. “We have to think about Brazil with or without Neymar, with or without other players. Our final list we will make after the FIFA fixtures in March.”
The 33-year-old Neymar has never fully recovered from a torn ACL in October 2023 during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. But he's been key for Santos in its fight to avoid relegation in the Brazilian championship.
On Wednesday, he scored a hat trick for Santos despite a muscular injury. He is expected to play again on Sunday against Cruzeiro.
Ancelotti said Brazil does not have a “referential player” at the moment, a tag for the most valuable player that Neymar has mainly worn since the 2014 home World Cup.
“We have one of the world's best goalkeepers, some of the best defenders, top midfielders and some players up front. I don't want players who want to be the best in the world, I want players who want to win the World Cup,” Ancelotti said.
Asked about his team's group, Ancelotti said Brazil can top it.
“We can win all three matches, our idea is very clear. We need to be competitive during the entire World Cup. Our goal is to play in the final and for that to happen you need to face very strong teams anyway.”
Brazil won the last of its five World Cup trophies in 2002.
_vb_69.jpeg)
