Couple alleges baby swapping; DNA test to ascertain parentage

Two families have laid claim to a baby boy born at the Koti government hospital here, with a couple alleging that their child was swapped by the staff with a girl, prompting authorities to order a DNA test to ascertain the real parentage, police said today.

According to Inspector P Shiva Shankar Rao of Sultan Bazar police station, one Shatru Babu has lodged a complaint alleging that a baby boy born to his wife Rajitha on Tuesday was swapped by the hospital staff with a girl.

However, hospital authorities say that Rajitha had given birth to a baby girl and another woman (identified as Ramadevi) delivered a boy nearly at the same time within a gap of four minutes.

Doctors attending to both women (who underwent Cesarean operations) say the confusion arose after the staff called out for Ramadevi to show the boy, and Rajita’s family members came and took the infant away.

“We tried to explain to Rajitha that she delivered a girl. But she was not listening. So now, the only solution is a DNA test,” doctors said.

The Telangana State Forensic Laboratories would conduct the test.

“FSL officials will collect blood samples of all the concerned today for the DNA test. The result will be known in a couple of days,” a police official said.

Meanwhile, Hospital Superintendent V Ratna Kumar, said that both the babies are doing fine, have been “well fed” and taken care of.

Ramadevi has not formally filed any police complaint in the case.