Playschool Caretaker Arrested in Maujpur for Alleged Abuse of Toddler

Police have arrested a caretaker and booked the school’s director, principal, and a teacher after a three-and-a-half-year-old boy was allegedly subjected to physical and sexual abuse at a private playschool in northeast Delhi’s Maujpur.

According to police, CCTV footage purportedly shows the child being tied to a chair for hours, repeatedly hit and kicked, and having his ears pulled violently inside a classroom. The recordings also allegedly showed his food being taken away before he could eat.

The child’s father, Navneet Chaudhary, said his son had been distressed for several days before his condition sharply worsened on August 18. When the boy returned home from school that day, he began vomiting and experiencing dizziness. A paediatrician noticed swollen eyes and referred the family to an ENT specialist, who discovered the child's eardrums were severely swollen and close to rupturing.

The family subsequently approached the school management to view CCTV footage. Chaudhary stated that the school initially claimed the camera system was not working and later demanded Rs 1,500 to provide access to the recordings. After securing the footage, the family discovered the alleged assaults. A hospital medico-legal examination also noted swelling on the child's left thigh and an abrasion near his left eye.

The complaint further alleged inappropriate touching, leading police to invoke the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The case was registered at Jafrabad police station under sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 126 (wrongful restraint), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Sections 75 and 82 of the Juvenile Justice Act and Section 12 of the POCSO Act.

The Directorate of Education (DoE) has ordered an inquiry into the matter. An official confirmed that a committee led by the regional director of education (East) will investigate the allegations under POCSO guidelines and submit a report within two days.

The school owner stated that an internal investigation was underway, the caretaker and teacher had been permanently removed, and all relevant materials were handed over to the police.