Five employees of a Bengaluru daycare centre accused of physically abusing toddlers in their care are absconding with their mobile phones switched off, as police launched a manhunt and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on 2 July. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh described the incident as “serious” and “heinous” after personally reviewing the videos that triggered the case.

Who the Accused Are and What They Are Alleged to Have Done

The five accused — Manjula, Vijayalakshmi, Bhavani, Sindhu, and Bindu — were employees of the Society General Baby Care Centre, operating on the premises of a private firm in Brookefield. The case was registered at HAL Police Station based on a complaint filed by Tilakesh Kumar (32), a state government employee and resident of K.R. Puram.

The First Information Report (FIR) contains deeply disturbing allegations. According to the complaint, staff members allegedly placed children inside a washing machine to frighten them, forced water into their mouths through a pipe, and locked some children inside bathrooms as a form of punishment. Children were also allegedly forced to sit on a western-style toilet and were routinely beaten and intimidated whenever they cried or became restless.

How the Case Came to Light

The alleged abuse surfaced after videos and photographs purportedly showing children being subjected to physical violence and intimidation were forwarded to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). The CWC subsequently lodged a formal complaint, leading to the registration of the FIR. The videos also circulated on social media, drawing widespread public outrage.

The FIR has been filed under Section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act. The daycare centre was reportedly being operated through an outsourced arrangement with the private firm on whose premises it functioned.

What the Police Commissioner Said

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh confirmed the gravity of the situation after reviewing the footage. “After seeing the videos, it is evident that this is a serious case. Such heinous acts should never take place. The Child Welfare Committee has lodged a complaint, and we will investigate the matter thoroughly. An FIR has been registered against the five women in connection with the incident,” he said.

The Commissioner also announced a broader regulatory sweep. “We will obtain details of all similar daycare units from the concerned department. If any of them are found violating prescribed norms and conditions, they will be shut down,” he added. He clarified that the investigation’s focus would remain on the alleged abuse itself, not on how the videos entered the public domain.

SIT Composition and Investigation Status

The Joint Commissioner of Police (East), the in-charge Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Whitefield, and a woman police officer from the South-East Division have been entrusted with the investigation. DCP (South-East) Mohammed Sujitha visited the daycare centre and inspected the premises.

Police conducted a spot mahazar — a formal scene inspection — at the facility on Thursday. Investigators are currently examining CCTV footage, recording statements from parents, staff, and other witnesses, and verifying the authenticity of the circulating videos. The absconding accused have not yet been traced, and their mobile phones remain switched off.

What Happens Next

Efforts to arrest the five accused are ongoing. The police have also signalled a wider audit of daycare facilities in the city, suggesting this case could prompt regulatory action beyond the immediate criminal proceedings. With an SIT now in place and senior officers directly overseeing the probe, authorities have indicated that a thorough investigation — and accountability — is the priority.