Bengaluru: In a shocking case of alleged child abuse that has sparked widespread outrage, Bengaluru Police have arrested two staff members working at a daycare centre located within the Capgemini campus in the city’s Brookefield area. The arrested caregivers, identified as Manjula and Vijayalakshmi, are accused of subjecting toddlers to physical and psychological abuse, including locking children inside washrooms and allegedly placing them inside washing machines to intimidate them. According to officials from the HAL Police Station, investigators have gathered crucial evidence against the accused, and additional arrests may follow as the probe expands. Authorities are also examining the roles and responsibilities of both Capgemini and the daycare operator, Little Scholar, to determine whether negligence or lapses in supervision contributed to the alleged abuse.
Preliminary investigations have revealed serious concerns regarding the hiring and training practices at the daycare facility. Police officials stated that Manjula had recruited four additional staff members, many of whom reportedly lacked even basic childcare training before being assigned responsibility for supervising young children. Investigators suspect that inadequate training, poor oversight, and a lack of proper childcare protocols may have created an environment where abuse could occur unchecked. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by senior police officers, has been constituted to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter. Authorities have recorded statements from parents and staff members, reviewed CCTV footage, and collected other forms of evidence to establish the sequence of events and identify all individuals responsible.
The case came to light after videos and photographs allegedly showing children being physically abused and threatened inside the daycare centre were submitted to the Child Welfare Committee. According to the First Information Report (FIR), staff members allegedly resorted to inhumane methods to control toddlers, including placing children inside washing machines to frighten them, forcing them to sit on toilets as punishment, inserting water pipes into their mouths, and physically assaulting them. Some children were also allegedly locked inside bathrooms and routinely intimidated. Following the emergence of these disturbing allegations, Capgemini announced that it is fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities and has temporarily shut down the on-campus daycare facility as a precautionary measure. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh described the incident as “serious” and “heinous,” emphasizing that the investigation will continue until all those responsible are identified and brought to justice.
