Bengaluru Daycare Abuse: Two Arrested, Police Probe Capgemini and Agency
Two caregivers working at the on-campus daycare inside the Capgemini technology park in Bengaluru's Brookefield have been arrested for allegedly abusing toddlers. The accused, identified as Vijayalakshmi and Manjula, are said to have locked children in bathrooms and placed them inside washing machines.
Police have reportedly gathered substantial evidence against the two, and more arrests are expected. The authorities are also investigating the roles of Capgemini and the agency 'Little Scholar' that operated the daycare.
The case came to light after a complainant shared videos showing children, some as young as two years old, inside the drum of a front-loading washing machine. In one clip, a caregiver is seen using a jet spray on the children. Another video shows staff locking children in bathrooms.
The videos went viral on social media, prompting a police complaint and a separate complaint to the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. A case has been registered against five women caregivers at the daycare.
A district child protection officer told NDTV that the abuse was likely systematic. Approximately 50 to 60 children were enrolled at the centre, with 15 to 20 attending daily. Probation Officer Tilakesh Kumar said such incidents had been occurring for some time, adding that a previous whistleblower who reported the abuse was fired.
Capgemini released a statement saying it is cooperating with authorities and has temporarily closed the daycare facility. “Capgemini's foremost priority is the health, safety and well-being of its employees and their families. We are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and assisting them in their efforts to establish the facts,” the statement read.
