Chennai
An Indian-origin couple in the
Authorities booked them for child neglect and abuse after
the couple from Tamil Nadu allegedly questioned why the girl had to undergo
expensive tests at the medical establishment and attempted to take the child
from the hospital against doctors' advice.
The couple, Prakash Settu and Mala Paneerselvam, was earlier
sent to a prison in
The baby, Himisha, and her twin brother were taken away from
them by Child Protective Services a few weeks ago.
Friends of the family, who deny the allegations levelled
against the couple, have organised an online fundraiser to help them wage a
legal battle against the
A close friend of the couple claimed that they had enquired
about the need for expensive medical tests at each stage of the treatment only
because they could not afford them. "Their insurance did not cover all of
them. This was misconstrued as neglect," the friend said.