A Bengaluru court remanded accused Vijayalakshmi to 14-day judicial custody in the Brookefield daycare abuse case. Police continue investigating the allegations while Karnataka’s child rights panel reviews daycare safety protocols.
Police have booked five caregivers after videos allegedly showing toddlers being mistreated at a daycare centre inside a Bengaluru IT campus surfaced. Capgemini has temporarily shut the facility while the investigation continues. | X/@rahuljaitley
A Bengaluru court on Friday remanded Vijayalakshmi, one of the accused in the alleged abuse of children at a Brookefield daycare centre, to 14 days of judicial custody as the investigation into the incident continued.
The case has triggered scrutiny of safety practices at daycare centres in Karnataka. The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has begun reviewing the incident, while police continue examining video footage and other evidence that allegedly captured the abuse.
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Earlier in the day, Bengaluru City Police confirmed the arrest of Vijayalakshmi after she was identified during verification of videos that surfaced in connection with the alleged abuse of an infant at the daycare centre.
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Police said she has been named as an accused in the FIR registered in the case.
Officials also said another accused has been taken into custody after being identified from the video footage. She is expected to be produced before a court as the investigation progresses.
According to police, five women employed as nannies at the daycare centre have been named in the case. They have been identified as Manjula, Vijayalakshmi, Bhavani, Sindhu and Bindu.
HAL Police have registered a case under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police said the videos allegedly show toddlers being subjected to physical and mental abuse. The alleged acts include placing children inside a washing machine, spraying them with water using a toilet jet spray, locking them inside toilets and threatening them into silence.
Investigators are examining CCTV footage and other technical evidence.
Reacting to the incident, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge termed the alleged assault “absolutely unacceptable” and said such incidents would not be tolerated.
“Such an incident is absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The authorities have already sought a report on the matter,” he said.
Kharge said daycare centres are required to function in accordance with a prescribed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). He added that the management had been asked to submit a written explanation.
“Parents entrust daycare centres with the care of their young children. These centres must be operated with the utmost care and in accordance with the prescribed guidelines. That was clearly not the case here,” he said.
“This is not just about the company’s reputation—it also tarnishes ‘Brand Bengaluru.’ Let the report come in, and appropriate action will be taken,” he added.
KSCPCR chairperson Santhosh Kumar said the Commission had visited the daycare centre along with police officials after the incident came to light.
“Actually, I visited the site along with the police yesterday; there was no one, and the premises were closed… Regarding the children involved, our Commission is considering arranging counselling for them through a consultant… We have requested a list of the parents of the 35 children from the police; once we receive it, we will arrange to meet them as well,” he said.
Kumar said the Commission would consult government departments before deciding what additional precautions or SOPs may be required.
He added that police had been instructed to recover CCTV footage and other evidence and said the Commission was treating the matter “100 per cent seriously”.
KSCPCR member Satyanarayana Shetty said the Commission had inspected the daycare centre and sought details of the existing SOPs.
He said he and the Chairperson had also visited daycare centres at Manyata Tech Park to examine compliance with current safety procedures.
“The Chairperson and I visited some daycare centres at Manyata Tech Park this morning to check the existing SOPs and compliance. Since the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is also coming, we will coordinate with them. Today we will visit various places across Bengaluru with the NCPCR team. Based on their inputs and suggestions, we will decide the further course of action,” he said.
Shetty said the Commission would ensure action against those found responsible.
“Whoever is at fault, the Commission will make every effort to ensure they are penalised. There is no doubt about it,” he said.
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