Kharghar creche owner arrested in child assault case

The police in Navi Mumbai arrested the owner of a play school-cum-daycare centre at Kharghar on Friday, where a child was allegedly beaten up brutally by a caretaker. The Bombay High Court had rejected the application of Priyanka Nikam on Thursday, owner of Purva Play School, for pre-arrest bail. Following which the police arrested her on Friday.

The caretaker/maid Afsana Sheikh, who allegedly beat up a 10-month-old baby girl, is already arrested. CCTV video clip showing Sheikh beating the girl had gone viral on social media last month. Police have registered a case of attempt to murder as well as relevant offences under the Juvenile Justice Act against Nikam and Sheikh.

Police had earlier arrested Nikam under section 324 of IPC (voluntarily causing hurt), but she got bail. Later police pressed the charge of attempt to murder, so she moved the courts for pre-arrest bail. Navi Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale said the police would produce Nikam in a local court and seek her police remand.