One of the accused in the Bengaluru daycare abuse case has been arrested, and another is in custody, with efforts ongoing to locate the remaining absconding staff members. Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge emphasized the government’s “zero tolerance” for such incidents. The arrested individual is identified as Vijayalakshmi, while formalities for the detained accused are being finalized by the police.
A special police team has been established to track down the absconding accused seen in the troubling videos. Three other staff members have been questioned and instructed to cooperate with the investigation. Statements from parents of children attending the daycare center have been recorded, with around eight to ten staff members questioned so far for evidence collection.
Kharge highlighted the government’s strict stance on crimes involving children and requested a detailed report from the relevant department. He stressed the importance of background verification for daycare staff before employment, emphasizing adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by daycare centers and crèches. The incident came to light through social media videos showing toddlers being mistreated at the Society General Baby Care Centre.
The five accused individuals, including Manjula, Vijayalakshmi, Bhavani, Sindhu, and Bindu, have been identified in the case. The Bengaluru Police Commissioner termed the incident “serious” and “heinous,” prompting the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate. An FIR has been filed invoking relevant sections of the law based on a complaint lodged by a resident, alleging physical and mental abuse of toddlers by the accused.
