India recorded 1,87,702 cases of crimes against children in 2024, according to the latest NCRB data. Of these, 69,191 cases were registered under the POCSO Act. Delhi alone recorded 7,662 cases involving children.
Now, a case involving a three-year-old boy at a playschool in northeast Delhi's Maujpur has raised fresh questions about how children are protected inside classrooms.
The alleged abuse came to light after the child's parents noticed bruises and a sudden change in his behaviour. What they found after asking the school for CCTV footage led to a police investigation.
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What Happened?
The boy had been attending the playschool for around one-and-a-half years.
But in early August, his parents noticed that he had become unusually scared and irritable. He was also reluctant to use the washroom and reportedly cried uncontrollably at night.
His parents also noticed bruises on his face and arms.
After the child complained of ear pain and vomited on 18 August, his parents took him to a doctor. The medical examination reportedly noted injuries, including swelling in both ear canals. Police later said the child had abrasions on his face and arms.
The parents then approached the school.
How Did It Unfold?
On 25 August, the child's father asked the school management for CCTV footage from the classroom.
According to the police account reported by Hindustan Times, the school initially cited technical problems and delayed access to the recordings.
The following day, the parents were allegedly asked to pay ₹1,500 to view the footage. After making the payment, they were able to access recordings covering 16, 17 and 18 August.
The footage allegedly showed the child being slapped, kicked and pulled by his ears.
It also allegedly showed him being tied to a chair for hours.
On 18 August, police said the child was allegedly restrained from around 9:45am to 12:30pm. The footage also allegedly showed a teacher and an attendant involved in the treatment of the child.
Hindustan Times said it had seen videos in which the teacher and attendant allegedly tied the child to a chair, but noted that it could not independently verify the videos.
The School's Explanation
According to the report, school staff allegedly tried to justify their actions by pointing to the child's behaviour.
The family was reportedly told that the boy hit other children and threw chairs.
His father said the child was undergoing speech therapy and suggested that his behaviour may have been linked to difficulties communicating.
The father also alleged that his son may have been subjected to inappropriate physical contact because the child had become uncomfortable with being touched.
That allegation is part of the ongoing investigation. It should not be treated as a confirmed finding.
What Police Have Done
After the father filed a complaint, police visited the school and seized the CCTV recorder.
An FIR was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Juvenile Justice Act.
The BNS sections cited in the case include Section 115(2), relating to voluntarily causing hurt, Section 126(2), relating to wrongful restraint, and Section 3(5), concerning acts done by several people with common intention.
The POCSO Act's Section 12 deals with punishment for sexual harassment of a child and can provide for imprisonment of up to three years and a fine. However, the reported sexual-harassment allegation in this case remains under investigation.
The case also includes Sections 75 and 82 of the Juvenile Justice Act, dealing with cruelty to children and corporal punishment.
As of 31 August, a 35-year-old attendant had been arrested. The teacher had been asked to join the investigation, while the principal and director were also named in the case. Police were investigating the role of the other accused.
Later on 31 August, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered that the playschool premises be sealed and said the government would ensure that responsibility was fixed. The police investigation was continuing.
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What Does The Law Say About Corporal Punishment?
Corporal punishment is not a legitimate way to discipline children.
Section 82 of the Juvenile Justice Act specifically covers corporal punishment in child care institutions. A first conviction can attract a fine of ₹10,000. A subsequent offence can lead to imprisonment of up to three months, or a fine, or both. A convicted employee can also face dismissal and be barred from working directly with children.
The law also provides a stronger penalty if the management of a child care institution fails to cooperate with an inquiry or comply with directions after corporal punishment is reported.
The Right to Education Act separately prohibits physical punishment and mental harassment in schools, although its statutory coverage concerns children aged six to 14.
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And What About CCTV?
Delhi's Directorate of Education has directed government, aided and unaided recognised private schools to maintain school safety measures. Its February 2024 circular specifically says schools must ensure that CCTV cameras are installed and remain functional.
That makes CCTV an important accountability tool, but cameras alone cannot prevent abuse.
The Maujpur case also showed why access to evidence matters. In this case, the parents' concerns about their child's injuries and behaviour eventually led them to seek the recordings that police say captured the alleged abuse.
Bengaluru Had Raised A Similar Question
The Delhi case came less than two months after allegations of abuse at a daycare facility in Bengaluru.
In June, videos allegedly showing toddlers being mistreated at a daycare operating on Capgemini's Bengaluru campus surfaced and were reported to authorities. Police booked five caregivers, and the company temporarily closed the facility. Two caregivers were later arrested as the investigation continued.
The two cases are different, but they raise the same basic issue: children can spend several hours in the care of adults outside their homes, and parents often depend on those adults to keep them safe.
In Maujpur, that trust was shaken after a three-year-old's bruises and behaviour led his parents to look more closely.
The investigation will now have to establish exactly what happened, who was responsible and whether anyone else failed in their duty of care.
The larger question remains difficult to ignore: if a classroom has CCTV but abuse can still allegedly happen inside it, what other safeguards are needed to keep children safe?
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TL;DR | News At a Glance
What happened?
A three-year-old was allegedly assaulted at a playschool in Delhi’s Maujpur. His parents noticed bruises and changes in his behaviour.
How did it come to light?
The parents asked the playschool for CCTV footage, which allegedly showed the child being hit and tied to a chair.
What action was taken?
An attendant was arrested, while a teacher, principal and director were booked. The playschool premises were later ordered to be sealed.
What laws were invoked?
The case was registered under provisions of the BNS, POCSO Act and Juvenile Justice Act.
