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In its complaint, the company has alleged that the caregivers employed by Little Scholars subjected the children to various forms of abuse.
Capgemini has now filed a detailed complaint with the Bengaluru Police, accusing the daycare operator of child safety failures (AI generated image)
In the Bengaluru daycare investigation, IT company Capgemini, which had outsourced the daycare center to Little Scholars, has now filed a complaint with the HAL police against the operator of the facility. The company has sought criminal action against both the daycare management and the nannies involved over the alleged abuse of children at its Bengaluru campus.
The complaint letter, obtained by CNN-News18, comes in the backdrop of the alleged video going viral. The disturbing clip shows children allegedly being abused and harsh punishment tactics being used to silence crying babies.
After a few days of investigation, the police arrested two nannies, Vijayalakshmi and Sujatha. Sujatha, initially considered a whistleblower, was later arrested after investigators found evidence that she had recorded videos of child abuse to “take revenge” on her manager, with whom she allegedly had a personal dispute.
Capgemini has now filed a detailed complaint with the Bengaluru Police, accusing the daycare operator of serious child safety failures, supervisory lapses and allowing an environment where children were allegedly subjected to physical and mental abuse.
While the police investigation has so far focused on the role of the caregivers seen in the video and the whistleblower-turned-accused, Capgemini’s complaint has widened the scope of the investigation.
The company has sought action against both the nannies involved and the management of Little Scholars under various provisions of the Indian Justice Code (BNS) and the Juvenile Justice Act.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemantha Kumar Singh, speaking to the media, confirmed that the IT company has filed a complaint.
‘Child safety protocol completely failed’
The complaint states that the company committed serious operational lapses, failures in supervision and safety, and repeated violations of the responsibilities assigned to the daycare operator.
According to Capgemini, Little Scholars was appointed to operate the daycare facility at its Kundalahalli campus and it had assured the company of the safety and care of the children enrolled there. It promised that children would be cared for responsibly, under proper supervision and in a safe environment. The company further said that the daycare operator had assured compliance with all prescribed child protection protocols, staffing norms and operational standards expected from such a facility.
Capgemini has alleged that those assurances were completely violated. In its complaint, the company has alleged that the caregivers employed by Little Scholars subjected the children to various forms of abuse. It said these were not limited to physical assault, but also included mental harassment, abusive disciplinary practices, forcibly restraining children when they cried, and even confining children inside toilets.
The company has also expressed concern over the alleged recording and dissemination of videos of children. It alleges that daycare staff filmed children inside the facility without permission and that some footage was recorded in washroom areas, violating the children’s privacy and with complete disregard for their safety.
Capgemini described these acts as a serious violation of the privacy and dignity of children, especially given that the daycare was entrusted with the care of the employees’ children.
The company informed the police that the video has caused great distress to parents, shaken the confidence of employees who had entrusted the care of their children to the company and damaged the reputation of Capgemini.
Capgemini further said that once the allegations came to light, it issued a show cause notice to Little Scholars seeking an explanation. According to the complaint, after the allegations came to light, the daycare operator neither responded to the notice nor visited the facility.
The complaint also blames daycare manager Manjula, who is named as accused number 1 in the FIR and is currently absconding, for failing to manage and supervise her employees.
Capgemini alleges that Little Scholars has “demonstrated a failure of safeguards, child protection protocols and operational controls to ensure the safety, welfare, dignity and protection of the children under its care.”
It further alleges “systemic operational, compliance and supervisory failures” that resulted in alleged child abuse and unauthorized recording of minors, according to the company.
Company seeks action under BNS, Juvenile Justice Act
Seeking criminal action, Capgemini has alleged that the children were physically assaulted, water was poured on them, indecently treated and they were subjected to physical pain and emotional distress under the provisions of Section 115(2) of the Indian Judicial Code relating to voluntarily causing hurt.
The company has also alleged that children were locked inside rooms and toilets, preventing them from moving around freely and this amounts to wrongful confinement. It further alleges that the children were intimidated and assaulted to force them to follow instructions, in what it describes as a coordinated pattern of misconduct by those running the facility.
“Little Scholars and its employees were entrusted with the care, custody, supervision and safety of the children at the crèche facility. The alleged physical assault, mental harassment, forcibly disciplining, locking children inside rooms or toilets, pouring water, roughhousing and unauthorized washroom videography reveal the abuse. The nannies and others caused physical pain and emotional distress to the children,” the complaint said.
The complaint further alleges: “The facts clearly show that the children were locked inside rooms or toilets, thus preventing them from moving around freely. The children were assaulted for obeying the rules. It is clear from the facts revealed that the accused employees and others of Little Scholars committed serious cognizable offenses by knowingly and unlawfully endangering the safety, privacy and dignity of the minor children.”
Capgemini has also sought action under the Juvenile Justice Act, arguing that despite being entrusted with the care and protection of minor children, the caretakers subjected them to physical assault, mental harassment, forcible disciplining, wrongful confinement, indecent exposure, unauthorized toilet videography, cruelty and willful neglect.
The company’s complaint has come when Bengaluru Police is expanding the scope of its investigation. Investigators are examining CCTV footage, digital evidence and statements from daycare workers as well as parents whose children appear in the video. More parents are expected to be questioned as part of the investigation.
Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh also explained why the alleged whistleblower-turned-accused was arrested.
According to Singh, Sujatha not only delayed submitting the video evidence by a week but also handed it over to another person instead of contacting the police directly. Investigators also found evidence of her direct involvement in some aspects of the case, he said, including a child who appeared to be stage-managed in one of the recorded scenes. “There is no doubt that she could have been an informer, but she is also an equal partner in the crime,” Singh said.
He said that although “something went wrong at the daycare center”, investigators were still trying to determine what happened.
Clarifying that the investigation is not over yet, the Commissioner said, “Whoever is found guilty, whether from the company, the daycare management or anywhere else, will be interrogated and action will be taken against him based on the evidence.”
About the author
Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor, News18, has been a journalist in the television and digital space for almost two decades. She covers South India for News18’s digital platform. She has worked before also…read more
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