Navi Mumbai: The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has directed the Panvel City Police to conduct a DNA test to confirm the biological relationship between the infant and the couple claiming to be the parents, before taking a final decision on handing over custody.

The two-days old baby, who was rescued by the police on June 28, is currently under the care of a government-recognized child care institution. The case had triggered outrage and concern after it was revealed that the child had been abandoned by her biological father, Aman Iqbal Kondkar (23), due to social pressure stemming from a relationship that the family was unaware of. Kondkar was traced and arrested within 24 hours by Crime Branch Unit II of Navi Mumbai Police, following an investigation using CCTV footage and technical surveillance.

"Even as it was initially believed that the child was born out of a premarital relationship, it was later found that the couple had secretly got married and now the family of the couple have accepted them and hence they want the baby back," senior police inspector Nitin Thakare said.

The incident came to light on June 28 when a newborn was found lying in the open in the Takka Colony area. Panvel City Police rescued the baby and filed a case under Section 93 of the BNS against an unknown individual.

Technical surveillance and CCTV analysis helped the police to track a vehicle seen in the area. This led them to Bhiwandi, where they apprehended Aman Iqbal Kondkar (23) an Engineer by profession who was currently unemployed.

During questioning, Kondkar confessed that he was the baby’s father. The child was placed in the road near the orphanage with a sorry note that stated that they felt sorry to abandon the baby as they were not in a state to take care of the child and would come backe to take the baby later, when they are able to look after the child.