In a shocking incident from Karnataka's Bagalkot district, the police have arrested a couple operating a residential school for children with special needs. The arrests followed the circulation of a viral video that depicted the brutal assault of a 16-year-old differently-abled boy, including an attack where chilli powder was thrown into his eyes.
Viral Video Exposes Three-Month-Old Brutality
The disturbing event is reported to have taken place approximately three months ago at the Divya Jyoti Special Children’s Residential School. However, it came to public attention only last week after a video of the assault went viral on social media platforms. The footage, which sparked widespread outrage, was allegedly recorded by the school's cook, who was subsequently dismissed from her position.
According to the complaint filed by the victim's parents, their son had been enrolled at the institution for three years, with the family paying a monthly fee of Rs 6,000. The accused have been identified as Akshay Indulkar and his wife Malini, the proprietors of the facility. The police investigation revealed that the trigger for the assault was a fight between the victim and another student at the school.
Outrage Leads to Arrests and School Shutdown
Upon seeing the horrific video, the boy's parents immediately approached the authorities. The victim's mother expressed profound shock, stating she was devastated to witness teachers beating her son so mercilessly. She vowed to fight for the safety of other children, aiming to have the school shut down permanently.
The viral video also incensed the local community. A group of enraged parents gathered outside the school premises, demanding stringent action against the perpetrators. This prompted a swift police response, leading to an urgent inquiry and the eventual arrest of the couple on Saturday, December 21, 2025.
Multiple Violations Uncovered in Probe
Siddharth Goyal, the Superintendent of Police for Bagalkot, confirmed the arrests and detailed the findings. The police have registered a case under the stringent Juvenile Justice Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Furthermore, the probe uncovered a critical regulatory failure: the school was operating without the mandatory licence.
In response to the incident, officials from the child development project and child rights protection agencies visited the centre. Taking cognizance of the gross violations, the Women and Child Development Department issued a notice and directed the immediate shutdown of the facility. The case highlights severe lapses in the oversight of institutions meant to care for vulnerable children.
