A 45-year-old nursery worker in Bengaluru, India, has been arrested for allegedly torturing toddlers and filming the abuse as part of a scheme to get her colleagues fired. The case, which initially appeared to expose child abuse at the Little Scholars daycare centre on a corporate technology campus, took a dark turn when police determined the woman, identified as Sujatha, was not a whistleblower but a perpetrator.
Alleged Abuse and Arrest
Police say Sujatha recorded videos of herself and other nannies abusing children, including locking toddlers in bathrooms and spraying them with water inside a washing machine. The footage was handed to a child helpline on June 29, but police noted a seven-day delay from the recording date of June 22. Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh stated that Sujatha's primary aim was to put the other nannies in trouble after a series of workplace disputes.
“She recorded videos on June 22 and handed them to the child helpline centre on June 29. Why was there a delay of seven days if toddlers' welfare was her primary objective? Why did she share the videos of the toddlers with a third person, violating rules of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015?” Singh said.
Investigation and Charges
Investigators discovered that Sujatha had participated in the abuse herself. A senior police officer confirmed: “While there is video evidence of another nanny locking a two-and-a-half-year-old kid inside the bathroom, Sujatha, too, has committed a similar act.” Sujatha has been remanded to 14 days' judicial custody at Bengaluru Central Jail and faces multiple charges under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Another nanny, 55-year-old Vijayalakshmi, has also been arrested in connection with the primary abuse allegations. Five other staff members have been booked as India's National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) launches a full probe into the corporate daycare horror.
Impact and Reactions
The case has shocked the local community and raised concerns about child safety in daycare facilities. Police have urged parents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior. The NCPCR investigation is expected to examine the daycare's operations and ensure accountability for all involved.
