Second arrest in day care centre abuse case

The Bengaluru Police on Saturday arrested Sujatha, a former caregiver at the daycare centre operating inside the Capgemini campus in Brookefield, in connection with the alleged physical abuse of children that has sparked widespread outrage. She is the second person to be arrested in the case after caregiver Vijayalakshmi, 55, was arrested on Friday for allegedly assaulting children at the facility.

According to the police, Sujatha, who was dismissed from her job at the day care centre, allegedly orchestrated the recording of videos showing the abuse, by using an accomplice who was still employed at the centre. Investigators said Sujatha’s name does not figure in the original FIR.

Police have booked Sujatha under provisions of the Information Technology Act and other relevant laws, for alleged recreation of child abuse for the purpose of getting it recorded on the mobile phone. She has also been booked for not reporting the incident earlier as well as with what intent or conspiracy she had delayed to report to the child helpline. She has also been booked for circulating child abuse videos before reporting it to Child Helpline, the police said.

Sujatha, a resident of Tekal in Malur taluk of Kolar district, used to commute daily by train to Bengaluru to work at the day care centre.

Financial dispute 

Police said Sujatha had developed a financial dispute with caregiver Vijayalakshmi within a month of joining the day care centre and was subsequently terminated from service. Investigators suspect that, allegedly seeking revenge against Vijayalakshmi, she arranged to obtain video recordings of the alleged abuse inside the centre.

According to her statement, the videos were recorded on June 22. Her mobile phone has been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to determine whether the videos were edited or tampered with.

Police are also verifying the date of her termination by obtaining employment records from the day care centre’s management and are examining how she allegedly gained access to the facility, or arranged for the recording of the videos, after her dismissal.

Outsourced 

During its inquiry, the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) found that the day care facility inside the Capgemini campus had been outsourced to a private agency, identified as Little Scholar Baby Care Centre.

“We are only concerned with the harassment of children and violations of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. The registration of the day care centre and violations of the Standard Operating Procedures at the centre is not part of our investigation at this point,” a senior police officer said. 

BOXNCPCR starts probe 

Bengaluru The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken suo motu cognizance of the case. A team from NCPCR also visited the daycare and police station on July 3 and 4 to review the progress of the investigation.

KSCPCR Chairperson Santosh Kumar said the Commission had taken suo motu cognisance of the case and had conducted an on-site inspection of both the daycare centre and the HAL Police Station on July 2. He said the Commission had directed the police and the District Child Protection Unit to take immediate action and submit detailed reports. 

“The police have taken all necessary legal action. Two accused have been arrested and the investigation is progressing,” Mr. Kumar said.