Parents send their children to daycare expecting them to be safe.
But a daycare operating inside Capgemini's Bengaluru campus is now under investigation after disturbing videos allegedly showed toddlers being abused by daycare workers.
The footage has sparked outrage, leading to the arrest of five daycare workers. Police say they are examining the videos, CCTV footage and other technical evidence as part of the investigation. The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights is also examining the case.
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What Happened?
According to the complaint, children as young as two were allegedly punished for crying.
The videos purportedly show daycare workers:
Making toddlers sit inside the drum of a front-loading washing machine.
Spraying water into their mouths using a toilet jet spray.
Locking children inside bathrooms.
Forcing some children into narrow water-filled pipes to frighten them.
Police are verifying the videos as part of their investigation.
Update: District Child Protection Unit probation officer Tilakesh Kumar told NDTV that the alleged abuse may have been going on for a long time. According to him, around 50 to 60 children were enrolled at the daycare, with 15 to 20 attending on a typical day.
Update: Kumar alleged that an earlier whistleblower had reported the abuse to a supervisor, but no action was taken. He claimed the employee was later dismissed. These claims have not been independently verified.
Update: Police sources told multiple media outlets that the videos were allegedly recorded by a daycare employee during her notice period after a friend working at the facility was dismissed. Investigators are verifying the circumstances in which the footage was recorded.
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FIR Registered Against Five Daycare Workers
The HAL Police have registered a case and arrested five daycare workers employed at the facility. They have been booked under provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with criminal intimidation.
The complaint names five daycare workers employed at the daycare.
Police are recording statements from parents, staff and other witnesses. Further action will depend on the findings of the investigation.
Was The Daycare Run By Capgemini?
The alleged abuse took place inside an on-campus daycare at Capgemini's Brookfield office in Bengaluru.
Capgemini has temporarily shut the facility and said it is cooperating with authorities.
The company said the health, safety and wellbeing of employees and their families remains its top priority while the investigation continues.
It is not yet clear whether the daycare was directly operated by Capgemini or by an external service provider.
Update: In a statement, Capgemini said the daycare was operated by external provider Little Scholars and that the safety and wellbeing of every child remains its highest priority.
The company said it had temporarily closed the Bengaluru daycare while authorities investigate the allegations. It added that it is fully cooperating with investigators and is committed to ensuring those responsible are held accountable.
Capgemini also said it is providing support to affected families, including access to a helpline, counselling through its Employee Assistance Program and flexible work-from-home options for employees.
The company added that it is reassessing all daycare providers across its facilities in India following the incident.
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Police Commissioner Calls It "A Very Serious Issue"
Update: Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh described the allegations as "a very serious issue" and said investigators are examining the videos, CCTV footage and other technical evidence.
He said senior officers are supervising the probe and added that "no one will be spared" if evidence establishes wrongdoing.
Singh also said police will inspect other daycare centres across Bengaluru to verify whether they are authorised and complying with safety norms.
Child Rights Commission Also Steps In
The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also taken note of the case.
The commission is expected to seek a report from authorities while conducting its own examination of the allegations.
Police are continuing to verify the footage and establish the sequence of events.
Child Rights Commission Steps In
Update: The videos have also been submitted to the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which is expected to seek a report from authorities.
Police are continuing to verify the videos, CCTV footage and witness statements to establish the sequence of events and determine whether any additional people were involved.
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