Indian daycare investigated after toddler allegedly bitten 25 times while left unsupervised
Police in India are investigating a private daycare centre after a 23-month-old boy was allegedly bitten around 25 times by another toddler after staff members reportedly left three young children locked inside a room without adult supervision, according to police. The incident occurred on 22 June at a preschool in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a city in the western state of Maharashtra.
- Police allege daycare staff left three toddlers locked inside a room without supervision.
- A 23-month-old boy suffered multiple bite injuries and required hospital treatment.
- Authorities have registered criminal cases, ordered the centre's closure and launched separate investigations.
A private daycare centre in India's Maharashtra state, in the city of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, is facing a criminal investigation after a 23-month-old boy was allegedly bitten 25 times by another toddler when staff members left three children locked inside a room without supervision, according to police and local media reports.
The incident occurred on 22 June at the FirstCry Intellitots pre-school in the city's CIDCO area and was captured on CCTV footage later reviewed by investigators. Police have registered a case against six members of the daycare's management and staff, while the Maharashtra Education Department has launched a separate inquiry.
CCTV footage shows children left unattended
According to police, the child's 29-year-old mother, a lawyer, dropped him at the daycare at around 10:30 a.m.
CCTV footage reviewed by investigators shows a female caretaker supervising four young boys before taking one child out of the room and allegedly locking the remaining three children inside from the outside.
The footage shows the children becoming distressed, crying and attempting to open the door. During the next 15 minutes, between approximately 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., a two-and-a-half-year-old boy allegedly bit the 23-month-old child around 25 times while another child stood frightened. No staff member entered the room to intervene during the incident.
According to NDTV, the injured child continued groaning in pain for nearly 45 minutes, but no teacher, headmistress or caregiver checked on the room during that period.
Police also said a young girl in the room was reportedly assaulted while the children were left unattended.
Child hospitalised after suffering multiple injuries
Officials said the boy sustained injuries to his face, nose, lips, chest, back and legs and was later admitted to a private hospital for treatment.
According to the parents, the daycare did not inform them about the incident until around 2 p.m., when they arrived to collect their son. They alleged that the principal initially told them the child had "only suffered scratches", but after removing his clothes they discovered bite marks across his body.
The child's father alleged that the daycare management attempted to conceal the incident. According to the police complaint, the family was not informed for nearly two-and-a-half hours, and CCTV footage was only shared after it had allegedly been edited.
The First Information Report (FIR), the formal document used to initiate a criminal investigation in India, further states that representatives of the institution attempted to discourage the family from approaching police, allegedly telling them not to file a complaint and claiming that no action could be taken against them.
The parents also alleged that the management offered them 1 million Indian rupees (approximately US$11,700) and three years of free education for their son in exchange for not filing a police complaint. They further alleged that staff told them, "You can't harm us."
The daycare has not publicly responded to the allegations, according to Latestly.
Six staff members booked
Following the complaint, police registered a case against six people associated with the daycare, including CEO Shubham Maheshwari, managers Mangesh Musale and Vaibhav Sawade, principal Kanchan Yewale and the female caretaker.
Senior Inspector Shivaji Taware, in charge of MIDC CIDCO Police Station, said an FIR had been registered against the principal, CEO, owner, regional manager, Maharashtra head and the helper at the centre.
"The case has been registered under BNS sections 125(a), 125(b), 318(3) and 351(2) related to rash and negligent acts, cheating, criminal intimidation, along with section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act," he said.
No arrests have been made so far.
Education Department orders closure
The incident has raised concerns over safety standards at daycare centres and pre-schools, where regulations require constant supervision, trained staff and child-safe infrastructure. Children should not be left unattended under any circumstances.
Primary Education Officer Jayshree Chavan said authorities had inspected the facility following the complaint.
"After receiving the complaint, an inspection was carried out. Following verification, an FIR was registered. It is a daycare centre, and safety precautions are mandatory for everyone concerned. Orders have been issued to shut down the day-care facility. The operators also failed to produce the required registration certificate," she said.
The Maharashtra Education Department has also initiated a separate investigation into the facility. According to reports, the daycare is under scrutiny for allegedly operating without the required municipal permissions.
Police said investigations are continuing to establish the sequence of events and determine responsibility for the alleged lapses by staff and management.
