Parents of toddlers enrolled at the Little Scholars daycare facility inside the Capgemini IT campus in Brookefield, Bengaluru, have reported severe behavioral changes in their children following the exposure of alleged abuse.
A couple working as software professionals told police that their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter developed an intense fear of bathrooms after attending the facility for eight months.
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The investigation escalated after viral video footage showed caretakers yelling at and locking a crying toddler inside a restroom.
Police, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammad Sujeetha, have interviewed affected families.
The parents of a three-year-old boy said their child showed no behavioral changes, but they frequently noticed other children reacting with fear when certain female caretakers shouted.
“While dropping or picking him up, we noticed that children would show signs of fear and anxiety on hearing the voices of some female caretakers,” the parents stated.
An anonymous senior police officer clarified that investigators found no evidence to support claims regarding the use of washing machines or toilet jets to discipline children.
“However, the videos clearly show caretakers yelling at toddlers and threatening them to control their behaviour.
One video shows a nanny, Vijayalakshmi, locking a child inside the bathroom for crying,” the officer said.
Police arrested 55-year-old caretaker Vijayalakshmi on Friday after video evidence showed her locking a toddler in the bathroom.
Authorities continue to question four additional caretakers.
Labor Department Scrutiny
The investigation also drew scrutiny from the labor department, which discovered that caretakers were paid 8,000 rupees monthly instead of the mandated 25,000 rupees minimum wage.
