Baby Swap Scandal Rocks Udaipur Hospital, Two Families Left Fighting Over Newborns

Last Updated:October 24, 2025, 15:33 IST

Dr. RL Suman, superintendent of MB Hospital, said an internal panel is reviewing the case, while both families wait for the DNA report to confirm the newborns’ identities

The police placed both newborns in the hospital ICU on Wednesday and fed them milk from the milk bank. (Representative/Shutterstock)

A serious allegation of a ‘baby swap’ has caused uproar at Mahatma Gandhi Government Hospital in Udaipur district, Rajasthan, following two deliveries on October 21. The dispute between two families over a newborn boy and girl escalated to the extent that police had to intervene.

DNA samples from the parents of both families were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Jaipur on Thursday, with a report expected within 15 days. Meanwhile, the hospital has formed an investigation committee, but the families’ anger remains unabated.

The controversy began on the afternoon of October 21, when Anita Rawat from Udaipur and Rameshwari Soni from Chittorgarh delivered in the same operation theatre within a 43-minute interval. Anita reportedly gave birth to a healthy boy, while Rameshwari had a girl.

However, negligence by the hospital staff led to confusion. Anita’s husband, Sunil Rawat, said, “We were first given a baby boy for an hour, but later the staff claimed it was a mistake and handed us a girl instead. We protested, but they didn’t listen."

Sunil promptly filed a complaint at the Hathi Pol police station. In response, police placed both newborns in the hospital ICU on Wednesday and fed them milk from the milk bank.

An emotional Sunil said, “We didn’t want the babies to be deprived of their mother’s milk, so we accepted the girl. We’ll stay in the hospital until the DNA report arrives. But if it confirms the boy is ours, it will be very painful for us — we’ve breastfed the girl and grown emotionally attached to her."

Conversely, Rameshwari Soni’s family is also claiming the boy, alleging that the hospital deliberately swapped the babies because the girl was considered ‘unwanted’.

The police are taking the matter seriously, with an officer from Hathi Pol police station stating that forensic experts have collected samples from the parents of both families.

“We are investigating the matter, and if the swap is confirmed, strict action will be taken against the staff. For now, both infants are safe," the officer said.

Dr. RL Suman, superintendent of MB Hospital, clarified on Thursday that after a thorough investigation, the identity of each newborn and their mother was confirmed, and the parents later agreed. However, the families rejected this statement.

Dr. Suman acknowledged that the hospital has formed an internal investigation committee to review procedures. The families are now awaiting the DNA report.

News india Baby Swap Scandal Rocks Udaipur Hospital, Two Families Left Fighting Over Newborns

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