In its complaint, the company accused Little Scholars, a third-party daycare service provider, of subjecting toddlers to harassment, torture, and physical as well as mental assault. Capgemini sought legal action against the partners, promoters, directors, and nannies associated with the facility under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The company further alleged coordinated misconduct by caregivers that resulted in the abuse and suffering of toddlers and urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation and take action against everyone responsible.
The complaint follows the emergence of disturbing videos that allegedly showed children as young as two years old being forced to sit inside the drum of a front-loading washing machine, having water sprayed into their mouths with a jet spray, and being locked inside bathrooms as punishment for crying. The footage, reportedly recorded at the daycare facility operating within Capgemini's Bengaluru campus, triggered widespread public outrage and prompted the police to register a First Information Report against five women associated with the centre.
Police first arrested Vijayalakshmi on July 2. A day later, Sujata, who was initially believed to be the whistleblower, was also arrested after investigators alleged that she admitted to recording one of the viral videos showing a toddler being locked inside a washroom.
According to the police, Sujata claimed that her actions were driven by a workplace and salary-related dispute with her supervisor and the prime accused, Manjula, who remains absconding. Investigators said she also recorded two additional videos of the alleged abuse and shared all three clips with a man identified as Gowtham, who is accused of circulating them. Police stated that digital evidence and Sujata's statement led to her being named as an accused in the case.
Following the allegations, Capgemini temporarily shut down the daycare facility, stating that the health, safety, and wellbeing of its employees and their families remained its highest priority. The company said it is fully cooperating with the ongoing police investigation.
The matter has also reached the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights after a petition sought its intervention. The commission is expected to seek a detailed report from the authorities and independently examine the allegations as the investigation continues.
The case has intensified scrutiny over child safety standards at workplace daycare facilities, with the police investigation, legal proceedings, and independent review by the child rights commission expected to determine accountability for the alleged abuse and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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