New Delhi: A three-year-old boy was allegedly subjected to repeated physical abuse at a playschool in northeast Delhi’s Maujpur, with CCTV footage purportedly showing him being tied to a chair for hours, slapped, pulled by his ears and kicked by staff members.

The disturbing allegations have triggered a police investigation, with a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. One woman working as an attendant at the playschool has been arrested, while a teacher, the principal and the director have also been named in the case.

The incident came to light after the child returned home showing visible injuries and unusual behavioural changes. His parents, alarmed by his condition, took him for medical treatment before seeking access to CCTV recordings from the playschool.

Police have since seized the CCTV recording equipment as part of the investigation.

Child returned home with swollen ears, bruises

The parents reportedly became concerned when their son began behaving differently in early August. According to the family, the three-year-old had become increasingly frightened of going to school, appeared agitated and was reluctant to use the washroom.

The situation escalated on August 18, when the child returned from the playschool with swelling around his eyes and ears and subsequently vomited. He also complained of pain in his ears.

The family took him to a doctor, including an ENT specialist, where examinations reportedly indicated significant swelling involving both eardrums or ear canals. The medical assessment raised concerns that the injuries could have been caused by physical assault.

The child was later taken to GTB Hospital for a comprehensive medical examination. Police said the medical documents recorded abrasions and bruises on his face and arms, while another medico-legal examination reportedly noted additional injuries.

The medical findings prompted the parents to question what had happened inside the playschool.

Parents sought CCTV footage after school denied assault

The child's father approached the school administration and asked to see CCTV footage from the classroom. According to the family, staff members initially denied that the child had been physically assaulted.

The family also alleged that the school initially cited technical problems and delayed providing the recordings. They later claimed that the school demanded ₹1,500 before allowing them access to the CCTV footage.

After obtaining access, the parents reviewed recordings from August 16, 17 and 18. What they allegedly saw prompted them to approach the police.

According to the family's account, the footage showed the boy being restrained on a chair for extended periods. In one sequence, he was allegedly tied to the chair using an apron, belt or strap, while his hands were left free.

The recordings reportedly showed the child attempting to move away and seeking to be released. On one occasion, he allegedly approached a teacher and asked to be untied before being struck and made to return to his seat.

The footage also allegedly captured the child's ears being pulled and him being slapped.

According to the child's father, the boy was restrained for around three hours on August 18, from approximately 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The family alleged that similar incidents were visible in footage from the preceding two days.

The videos have become a key piece of evidence in the investigation. However, the footage obtained by the family covers only three days, leaving investigators to determine whether the alleged abuse occurred over a longer period.

School allegedly blamed child's behaviour

The allegations have also raised questions about how the playschool responded to concerns about the child's behaviour.

According to the family, school staff attempted to justify their actions by describing the three-year-old as hyperactive and difficult to manage. The father disputed that explanation, arguing that even if the child had behavioural difficulties, staff should have contacted his parents rather than physically restraining or assaulting him.

The father said the school had previously raised concerns about the child's behaviour. He had reportedly taken the child home after an earlier complaint but continued sending him to the playschool after being reassured about his well-being.

The family said they had regularly received updates indicating that the child was eating, talking and participating normally at school. The alleged CCTV footage, they said, left them shocked because it appeared to contradict those assurances.

The father also alleged that his son may have been subjected to inappropriate touching. The family has raised the concern because of the child's sudden fear of physical contact and changes in his behaviour. Police have included a POCSO provision relating to sexual harassment in the FIR, but any such allegation remains subject to investigation.

Police book four people, one arrested

Following the complaint, Delhi Police registered a case on August 28.

The FIR includes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint and common intention. Police have also invoked provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act concerning cruelty to children and corporal punishment, along with Section 12 of the POCSO Act.

The case names the school's director, principal and a teacher, along with an attendant or caretaker.

The attendant, a woman in her mid-30s, has been arrested. The teacher has been asked to join the investigation, while police are examining the roles of the other accused.

Investigators have also seized the CCTV recorder from the playschool. Further action is expected to depend on the examination of the footage, medical evidence and statements of those involved.

The accused have not been convicted, and the allegations against them will be tested through the ongoing investigation and legal process.

Child's condition raises wider safety concerns

Beyond the criminal investigation, the case has raised serious questions about safety standards at playschools and daycare centres, where very young children spend several hours away from their parents.

A three-year-old may have limited ability to explain what happened during the day, making behavioural changes, unexplained injuries and other warning signs particularly important for parents and caregivers.

In this case, the child's fear of school, reluctance to use the washroom, agitation, crying and physical injuries became crucial indicators that something was wrong.

The allegations also highlight the importance of transparent CCTV access and effective grievance mechanisms in childcare facilities. Surveillance cameras can provide an important record of what happens inside classrooms, but their value depends on footage being preserved and made available to investigators when concerns arise.

The reported demand for payment before the family could access footage is also likely to come under scrutiny as investigators examine the sequence of events and the school's response after the parents raised concerns.

Investigation continues

The child had reportedly been attending the playschool for around a year and a half. His family now plans to seek professional support to help him cope with the aftermath of the alleged incident.

Police are examining the CCTV recordings and gathering medical and other evidence to establish what happened inside the classroom and whether the alleged abuse was an isolated incident or part of a longer pattern.

The investigation will also determine the individual roles of the teacher, attendant and school management and establish whether there were failures by others to prevent or report the alleged mistreatment.

For parents, the case is a disturbing reminder that a child's sudden fear, unexplained injuries or dramatic behavioural changes should not be dismissed. In the Maujpur case, those warning signs ultimately led the family to seek answers—and the CCTV footage allegedly provided a troubling account of what may have happened behind the classroom door.

As the police investigation progresses, the focus will now be on establishing the full sequence of events, ensuring accountability where wrongdoing is proved and safeguarding the child at the centre of the case.

With input from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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