Two caregivers at the on-campus daycare inside the Capgemini technology park in Bengaluru's Brookefield have been arrested for allegedly abusing toddlers.
The toddlers, aged between two and three years, were locked up inside bathrooms and kept inside washing machines by caregivers when they cried or caused disturbance.
The arrested caregivers have been identified as Vijayalakshmi and Manjula. They were produced in court, which remanded them to 14 days' judicial custody.
The daycare at Capgemini's HAL campus came under the scanner on Monday after disturbing videos allegedly showing toddlers being abused by the staff were circulated on WhatsApp.
According to a report, the case came to light after a child helpline official received videos of toddlers being subjected to ill-treatment at the centre.
It is alleged that the women caregivers put children inside a front-loading washing machine, made them sit on a western-style toilet, sprayed water into their mouths using a toilet jet spray, locked them inside bathrooms, and threatened them into keeping quiet.
Following this, Capgemini temporarily shut the facility and said it is cooperating with authorities.
Capgemini said in a statement that its foremost priority is the health, safety and well-being of its employees and their families.
"We are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and assisting them in their efforts to establish the facts," it said in the statement.
Commenting on the incident and the subsequent arrest, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the state has zero tolerance for such incidents.
He said the incident is not only about affecting the reputation of that company but also the 'Brand Bengaluru'.
"We have already sought clarification from the company through our department," the minister told reporters here.
He added that such large and reputed companies have their own policies, which are not limited to India but are global standards.
"They are expected to function according to those policies-how creches should be run, how nurseries should be managed, and how daycare centres should operate," Priyank said.
The minister explained that the companies have their own Standard Operating Procedures, which were overlooked.
"They should have carried out proper verification and different kinds of background checks. I believe that was not done," he said.
Priyank said he was awaiting the company's written explanation and stressed that no organisation should allow such incidents to occur.
Matters involving toddlers, he added, must be handled with the utmost responsibility.
"What has happened is truly a matter that makes one hang one's head in shame," he said.
The minister added that the Department of Women and Child Welfare has guidelines on how daycare centres should be run and managed.
(With inputs from PTI)