Capgemini daycare operator alleges extortion plot, claims videos were staged

The management of the Capgemini daycare in Bengaluru claimed the viral child abuse videos were deliberately staged by terminated employees as part of an extortion conspiracy.

In Short

• Ex-staff allegedly used CCTV blind spots to film staged abuse videos
• Daycare says two staffers were dismissed after workplace altercation
• Two arrested as after daycare operator submits evidence to police

The Bengaluru Capgemini daycare abuse case took an unexpected turn on Tuesday after the daycare management alleged that the viral videos showing abuse of toddlers were deliberately staged and manipulated as part of a premeditated extortion and blackmail conspiracy by disgruntled former employees.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the daycare operator claimed that the footage was created to pressure the management into reinstating terminated employees and extracting money.

The allegations come weeks after videos showing caregivers locking toddlers inside toilets, placing them inside front-loading washing machines and spraying water into their mouths sparked widespread outrage and led to a police investigation.

According to the management, the sequence of events began on June 25, when employees Sujata and Vijaya Laxmi R were dismissed following a physical and verbal altercation at the daycare.

It alleged that the two, in retaliation, bypassed security protocols to sneak a mobile phone into the facility and took children to areas outside CCTV coverage to record "staged acts of distress".

“They specifically targeted vulnerable children who could not speak, relocated them to areas outside of our comprehensive CCTV coverage and deliberately staged acts of distress to record them on video. We state unequivocally that this highly manipulated footage was created for the purpose of financial blackmail and reinstatement into the daycare facility,” the management said explaining the turn of events that took place in June.

The operator further alleged that after an FIR was registered and the videos were made public, former centre manager Manjula Kumar Banakar colluded with the terminated employees and introduced a man identified as Mahendar, who allegedly impersonated a police officer.

According to the statement, Mahendar coerced proprietor Ramandeep Kaur into transferring Rs 20,000 as purported legal fees and later demanded an additional Rs 2.5 lakh to suppress the controversy surrounding the leaked videos.

The management claimed that during proceedings at the HAL Police Station, police revealed that Mahendar was not a police officer.

It further alleged that Manjula subsequently absconded, while other staff members named by the management, Bhavani, Sindhumol O and Bindu CN, failed to cooperate with the internal enquiry despite being assured protection if found innocent.

The HAL police have so far arrested Sujata and Vijaya Laxmi R in connection with the case. While the police investigation is underway, the management has also named Manjula Kumar Banakar and three other staff members in its complaint.

Little Scholars said it has handed over CCTV footage, financial records, call logs and other digital evidence to investigators and pledged full cooperation with the probe. It also clarified that Capgemini's role was limited to providing the premises, while the daycare's operations were independently managed by Little Scholars.

- Ends