Capgemini has announced the temporary closure of its on-campus daycare facility in Bengaluru following allegations of child abuse at the centre, according to the company's statement. The facility, located at the IT company's HAL campus in Brookfield, Bengaluru, will remain closed as a precautionary measure while authorities investigate the claims. The company has now launched a nationwide review of all daycare facilities across its India offices and is offering flexible work-from-home arrangements to affected employees following the incident. In its official statement, the company confirmed: 'As a precautionary measure, we are temporarily closing the Bengaluru on-campus daycare facility. We are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and assisting them in their efforts to establish the facts.'
According to reports from People Matters, The Times of India, and Deccan Herald, an FIR has been registered against five women caregivers under relevant provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. The FIR was registered on June 29 at the HAL police station based on a complaint filed by child protection officer Tilakesh Kumar. The complaint alleged that caregivers physically mistreated and threatened toddlers when they cried, with the children involved believed to be between two and three years old. The FIR further alleged that some children were sprayed with water in their mouths using a toilet jet spray, locked inside bathrooms, made to sit on western-style toilets and placed inside a front-loading washing machine. These allegations remain under investigation and have not been tested in court.
As reported by People Matters, The Times of India, and Deccan Herald, police said the alleged incidents came to light after videos purportedly showing abuse inside the childcare centre circulated on WhatsApp. The videos were subsequently brought to the attention of the District Child Protection Unit, prompting the formal complaint and subsequent FIR registration. Police are currently investigating the allegations against the five named caregivers in the case, with the company fully assisting the ongoing investigation to ensure children's safety remains the top priority. The investigation is expected to continue examining the videos, recording witness statements and gathering additional evidence before deciding on the next course of action.
According to People Matters, The Times of India, and Deccan Herald, this incident comes amid broader challenges for Capgemini, as the company announced in January to cut up to 2,400 jobs in France, representing about 6 per cent of its workforce in the country. The IT services company is grappling with weak demand in key sectors in its home market. The Bengaluru daycare closure represents another operational challenge for the company as it navigates both internal issues and external market pressures, while maintaining its commitment to employee and family welfare. The incident is likely to sharpen conversations around oversight of third-party childcare providers, safeguarding protocols, vendor governance and compliance standards at employer-supported daycare centres, particularly as many large employers provide on-campus childcare facilities as part of broader employee wellbeing programs. The company has emphasized that 'At Capgemini, the safety and wellbeing of every child remain our highest priority' and is treating the situation with the utmost seriousness.
