Sonu Srinivas Gowda arrest - What did social media influencer do or rather, not do?

Former Bigg Boss Kannada OTT contestant is currently in police custody, after it was revealed that she has not officially adopted an 8-year-old minor who has been living with her.

In January 2024, social media influencer Sonu Srinivas Gowda begins posting videos and images of an eight-year-old girl who was voluntarily sent by the family in Raichur to live with the former. The young child, whose name and identity Sonu has disclosed multiple times as part of her social media journey, is now the focus of an investigation in a case of illegal adoption.

Sonu Srinivas Gowda's failure to follow adoption proess

Sonu has reportedly stated in her vlogs that she is in the process of formally adopting the girl. But Child Welfare Committee (CWC) members have countered this with proof that the social media influencer has not followed protocol in this matter and registered herself with the Central Adoption Resource Authority or the State Adoption Resource Authority.

Bigg Boss Kannada OTT’s Sonu Srinivas Gowda arrested in ‘adoption’ fiasco

It is alleged that Sonu has had an understanding with the biological parents of the minor, which could be in cash or kind, and brought her from Raichur to Bengaluru. In the time since, she has made the child a part of every vlog on her YouTube channel, which, according to the Juvenile Justice Act is illegal and amounts to child labour. The child, who was not sent to school by the parents, was not enrolled by Sonu either. She has also flouted sections of the same act in disclosing the child’s identity.

As per the law, if Sonu had registered herself for a single parent adoption, based on her age, she would have been given a child in the age group of 0-2 years only, after a thorough investigation into her physical, mental, emotional and financial status, to determine the capability to take care of a child. This would automatically make her ineligible to become a legal guardian for the 8-year-old in question. In the absence of a legal process of adoption, Sonu bringing the child to Bengaluru amounts to kidnapping.

Speaking on behalf of the CWC, district official Geetha addressed the media to explain the various laws that Sonu has flouted in taking charge of a minor child. The former Bigg Boss Kannada OTT contestant and social media influencer was arrested by Bengaluru police on March 22, following a complaint by the CWC. In her deposition before the police, she is said to have stated that she was unaware of the legal process of adopting a child.

The biological parents of the child have been sent summons to appear before the CWC and police and explain their version of events in the handover of the child.

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