A disturbing child-abuse case has surfaced from a daycare centre inside Capgemini’s HAL campus, where videos allegedly show toddlers being locked in bathrooms and placed inside a washing machine drum. Police have registered a case against five female caregivers, and the daycare has now been temporarily shut down.

The videos, which reportedly surfaced on 29 June, show a 2-3-year-old child crying inside a toilet, being splashed with water from a toilet jet, and sitting inside the drum of a front-load washing machine. The footage has sparked outrage because the children involved are reportedly the children of IT professionals working on the campus.

What happened

According to police, the daycare operated within the company campus and was being used by employees during work hours. The alleged mistreatment appears to have been caught on video by a staff member, and the clips quickly spread on social media.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Saidulu Adavath said the matter is being treated as serious, and investigators are still trying to determine whether the daycare was run directly by Capgemini or through an outside agency. The five caregivers are being questioned, but no arrests have been made so far.

Company response

Capgemini said employee and family safety is its top priority and that it is fully cooperating with investigators. As a precaution, it has closed the daycare facility on the Bengaluru campus for now.

The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also taken note of the case and will seek a report while conducting its own inquiry. That adds another layer of scrutiny to an already sensitive incident involving very young children.

What parents can do

If a child is mistreated at a daycare, parents should immediately inform the local police and report the matter to child protection authorities or the Child Welfare Committee. A medical check-up can also be important if there are signs of injury, fear or trauma.

Parents should also monitor daycare centres closely by making surprise visits, speaking regularly with their children, and staying in touch with staff about daily routines. Sudden behavioural changes, unexplained bruises or injuries should never be ignored.

Why this case matters

This case has raised serious questions about safety standards in workplace daycare centres, especially because parents trust them with very young children during office hours. It also underscores the need for stronger monitoring, CCTV review, staff vetting and clearer accountability in child-care facilities.

The investigation will likely focus on how long the alleged abuse continued, who knew about it, and whether any other children were affected. For now, the viral videos have left many parents deeply alarmed about daycare safety in corporate campuses.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced his resignation on Thursday, clearing the path for Deputy CM DK Shivakumar to assume leadership of the Congress government in the state.

Breakfast Meeting Confirms Transition

Siddaramaiah informed his cabinet colleagues about the decision during a breakfast meeting at his official Bengaluru residence this morning. Law Minister H K Patil confirmed that ministers present at the gathering approved Shivakumar's name as the successor.

The outgoing Chief Minister is scheduled to visit Lok Bhavan at 2:30 PM to submit his resignation papers, followed by a press conference at 3 PM. Visuals from the breakfast meeting showed Shivakumar touching Siddaramaiah's feet in a traditional gesture, after which the two leaders embraced—images that political circles interpreted as a signal of unity within the Congress.

Governor Out of Bengaluru

Siddaramaiah had sought an appointment with Governor Thawarchand Gehlot to formally tender his resignation. However, officials confirmed the Governor is currently in Indore due to personal reasons. Under constitutional provisions, the Chief Minister can submit his resignation in writing to Raj Bhavan officials even in the Governor's absence. Siddaramaiah will remain in office until the resignation is formally accepted.

 The 2.5-Year Formula Takes Effect

Speculation over a leadership change has shadowed the Karnataka Congress ever since it formed government in May 2023. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were strong contenders for the top post at the time. According to party insiders, Rahul Gandhi and the high command brokered an informal rotational arrangement—Siddaramaiah would serve the first half of the term, and Shivakumar would take over after two-and-a-half years.

Though Siddaramaiah's supporters repeatedly denied any formal agreement, the Shivakumar camp consistently maintained the deal existed. The government completed two-and-a-half years in November 2025, after which pressure from Shivakumar's faction intensified. A six-hour meeting in Delhi on May 26 finalised the transition plan.

 Major Cabinet Reshuffle Expected

The leadership change is likely to trigger a significant cabinet overhaul. Sources indicate 15 to 20 ministers could be dropped or replaced. Discussions are underway regarding two Deputy Chief Minister posts to balance caste and regional equations—one position may go to a Dalit leader, another to a Lingayat or OBC face. Siddaramaiah's son is also expected to be accommodated in the new cabinet.

 BJP Launches Attack

The opposition BJP quickly criticised the Congress over the developments. State BJP president BY Vijayendra claimed internal infighting had paralysed governance and accused the Siddaramaiah government of pushing Karnataka into heavy debt. The BJP has repeatedly attacked the Congress over leadership speculation since 2023, arguing the state government remained distracted by power struggles.

The Congress Legislature Party is expected to meet on Friday to formally elect Shivakumar as its leader before staking claim to form the new government.

Its business model has largely depended on a distributor-driven ecosystem, ensuring reach across multiple tiers of demand.

In addition to its trading operations, the group has expanded into real estate through Sewakram Realty, contributing to the development of residential, commercial, and industrial infrastructure in the Hubli-Dharwad region. With more than 25 completed projects within six years, the real estate division reflects the group’s efforts to diversify its business interests and tap into emerging opportunities in Tier 2 cities.

To address operational bottlenecks and unlock scalable growth in its core product business, Sewakram Group collaborated with Bada Business Private Limited, guided by Dr. Vivek Bindra. Before this collaboration, the company faced challenges related to distributor productivity, inconsistent engagement, and extended credit cycles, which impacted overall efficiency and cash flow. The lack of a structured system for evaluating distributor performance also limited growth potential.

Before the collaboration, Sewakram Group operated with around 250 distributors, many of whom were either inactive or contributing at suboptimal levels. The credit cycle extended up to 59 days, slowing down capital rotation and restricting the company’s ability to scale rapidly. Additionally, the business had no export presence and was largely dependent on traditional trading margins, which are often subject to price volatility in commodity markets.

Post collaboration under a Cash Growth Program (CGP), the company implemented a data-driven distributor strategy that enabled it to identify high-frequency and high-potential collaborators. Focused efforts on reactivation and relationship management led to a significant expansion of the distributor network, growing from 250 to more than 400 active distributors. 

This increase not only strengthened market penetration but also improved order consistency and volume across regions.

A key operational improvement was the reduction in the credit cycle from 59 days to 35 days. By segmenting distributors based on reliability, volume, and payment behavior, the company introduced optimized credit terms that accelerated cash flow. 

This change has enhanced liquidity and allowed for more efficient allocation of working capital, directly impacting the speed and scale of business operations.

The collaboration also enabled Sewakram Group to diversify its product business by entering the export market. The company established a new revenue stream through exports to the UAE, managing the entire process from compliance and documentation to buyer onboarding and transaction structuring. 

This initiative resulted in an export volume of 1250 metric tons, marking the company’s transition towards a more global business outlook.

In line with its long-term growth strategy, Sewakram Group also launched its own FMCG brand. This strategic shift from trading to branded products was aimed at improving margins, building brand equity, and reducing dependency on fluctuating commodity prices. The move represents a significant step towards creating a more resilient and scalable business model in the product segment.

As a result of these combined efforts, Sewakram Group is now on track to achieve a projected growth of over 250 percent in the next three years. The improvements in distributor expansion, reduced credit cycle, and entry into new markets have collectively strengthened its operational foundation.

In addition to strategic direction, Sewakram Group was supported by a dedicated team of consultants who conducted a detailed diagnosis of the business. 

Core operational and revenue bottlenecks were identified, and targeted solutions were implemented across key areas. This ensured that every intervention was aligned with measurable outcomes and long-term scalability.

Founder Arjun Agarwal stated, “Working with Bada Business helped us bring discipline into our systems. The improvements in our distributor network and cash flow cycles have directly influenced our growth and opened new avenues for expansion.”

The transformation of Sewakram Group underscores the role of structured business interventions in driving efficiency, strengthening networks, and enabling traditional enterprises to scale in a competitive and evolving market landscape.

PM Modi In Karnataka: Water Conservation, Natural Farming Push

9 Resolutions For Public Welfare

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged the people of Karnataka to adopt nine key lifestyle resolutions. These include water conservation, improved water management, and chemical-free natural farming. The appeal came during his day-long tour of the state, focusing on environmental sustainability and community outreach.

Temple Inauguration At Adichunchanagiri

The Prime Minister inaugurated the Shri Guru Bhairavaikya Temple at Sri Kshetra Adichunchanagiri Math in Mandya district. The temple holds deep religious significance for the Vokkaliga community, a politically influential agrarian group in Karnataka. Former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda attended the event.

‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Campaign

Modi highlighted the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ tree plantation drive during his address. He also stressed cleanliness of public and religious places. Officials present at the venue said the PM spent nearly half an hour inside the temple complex, gathering information about its heritage and ongoing social projects.

Vocal For Local, Millets Push

The PM promoted ‘Vocal for Local’ to boost domestic products. He also encouraged domestic tourism and consumption of nutritious millets. Another resolution focused on reducing cooking oil usage. Sources indicated these themes align with the government’s broader mission on health and self-reliance.

Homage To Balagangadharanatha Swamiji

The temple inauguration honoured the late Dr. Balagangadharanatha Mahaswamiji, widely respected for his social service. He had established numerous educational institutions and healthcare facilities across Karnataka. His belief — service to society as the highest form of worship — continues to inspire millions, according to math authorities.

Delhi-Dehradun Corridor Day Before

A day prior, on Tuesday, the PM inaugurated the ₹12,000 crore Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor. The 213-km, six-lane expressway cuts travel time from six hours to about two and a half hours. A 12-km elevated wildlife corridor — one of Asia’s longest — ensures minimal disruption to elephant movement. The PM called it a model of development with environmental balance.

What Next For Karnataka’s Farming

State officials said the PM’s push for natural farming may soon translate into fresh central schemes for Karnataka. The government is likely to launch awareness drives on millet cultivation and water harvesting in Mandya and surrounding districts. Political analysts said the Vokkaliga outreach could have implications for the ruling party’s electoral prospects in Old Mysuru region.