– Mohammed Talha Siddi Bapa
In a heart-breaking incident that has stirred emotions across Navi Mumbai, a newborn baby girl was found abandoned in the early hours of Saturday, June 28, 2025, near the gates of Swapnalay Girls’ Orphanage in Takka Colony, Panvel. The infant, barely two or three days old, was left in a blue plastic basket wrapped in a blanket, along with baby essentials such as milk powder, a feeding bottle, and clothing. What drew immediate attention, however, was a handwritten note placed with the child that began with the words: “We’re sorry.”
The note, written in English, expressed deep regret and anguish from the parents, citing overwhelming mental and financial difficulties as reasons behind their decision to part with the baby. The message also included a desperate hope that one day, circumstances might allow them to take the baby back. The discovery was made by a morning walker and a sanitation worker, who immediately alerted local residents. The baby was rushed to Siddhi Clinic & Nursing Home for urgent care. Fortunately, doctors declared her medically stable, though she was underweight. Following medical attention, she was placed under the protection of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and transferred to Vatsalya Punarvikas Kendra in Alibaug.
Panvel police launched a swift investigation, securing CCTV footage from the area. The video showed a woman clad in a burqa stepping out of a car and placing the basket near the orphanage gate around 2:42 a.m. Tracing the vehicle registration led the police to Bhiwandi, where they identified and detained the infant’s father, Aman Iqbal Kondkar, a 23-year-old engineer. Further investigation revealed that the mother was a 20-year-old distant relative from Mumbra. The couple had reportedly been secretly married for about a year and had kept the marriage – and the pregnancy – hidden from their families out of fear of social and familial backlash.
According to police sources, the couple delivered the baby at a private hospital in Bhiwandi and, unable to confront their families or cope with the pressure, decided to abandon her. A case was registered under Section 93 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (formerly IPC 317), pertaining to child abandonment. However, the police have chosen not to arrest the couple, instead serving them notices and encouraging them to follow legal procedures to reclaim their child through the Child Welfare Committee.
Community members and local leaders have expressed shock and sorrow over the incident. MLA Prashant Thakur assured that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure the child’s safety and secure future. Meanwhile, mental health experts have weighed in on the psychological pressures that might lead young couples to such acts. They pointed out how stigma, secrecy, and the fear of “log kya kahenge” (what will people say) can sometimes override parental instinct and push vulnerable individuals toward drastic decisions.
Currently, the baby remains in CWC custody, with the committee set to evaluate the couple’s ability to care for her in the coming days. The process could take up to two weeks, during which time authorities will monitor the couple’s intent, capacity, and home environment. If found suitable, the child may be returned to them under court-supervised care; otherwise, she could be placed in the adoption system.
This painful episode in Panvel is not just a reminder of the fragility of young lives but also a stark reflection of the societal barriers that continue to force people into silence, secrecy, and desperation. While the words “We’re sorry” written in a note express remorse, they also echo a larger societal failure – one where shame can outweigh compassion, and fear can override family.
