Toddlers abused, 5 nannies booked, facility shut temporarily: Inside the Bengaluru daycare case

A childcare centre operating inside Capgemini's Bengaluru campus has come under police investigation after videos allegedly showing toddlers being abused surfaced online, prompting authorities to book five caregivers and leading the company to temporarily shut the facility.

The case came to light after multiple videos purportedly showing children between the ages of two and three being subjected to inhumane treatment were circulated on social media and reported to the Child Helpline. Based on the complaint, police registered a case against five women employed as caregivers at the daycare centre.

According to the complaint and preliminary police findings, the videos allegedly depict caregivers placing toddlers inside the drum of a front-loading washing machine, locking them inside bathrooms, and spraying water into their mouths using a toilet jet spray in an attempt to silence them when they cried. Authorities are verifying the authenticity of the videos and investigating the circumstances under which the incidents allegedly occurred.

Police officials have identified the five accused caregivers and initiated legal proceedings under relevant provisions of the law. Investigators have also collected CCTV footage from the daycare centre and are expected to question the accused as well as speak with parents to determine whether similar incidents occurred previously.

The daycare facility was operating within Capgemini's HAL campus in Bengaluru, catering primarily to employees' children. Following the emergence of the allegations, Capgemini announced the temporary closure of the daycare as a precautionary measure.

In a statement, the company said the health, safety and well-being of its employees and their families remain its foremost priority. It added that it is cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies and assisting authorities in establishing the facts surrounding the incident.

The incident has triggered widespread outrage among parents and child rights advocates, raising serious questions about oversight, staffing standards and monitoring mechanisms at daycare centres operating within corporate campuses. Child safety experts have called for stricter inspections, regular audits and stronger accountability measures to ensure the safety of children entrusted to such facilities.

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing, and further action will depend on the findings of the probe, including forensic examination of the videos and statements from witnesses and affected families.