A residential school for differently abled children in northern Karnataka has been sealed and a couple running the institution arrested after a disturbing video surfaced showing the brutal assault of a 16-year-old boy inside the facility.
The incident took place at Divyajyoti School for Differently Abled Children in the Navagar area of Bagalkot district. The video, which went viral last week, allegedly shows the teenager being repeatedly beaten with a belt and a plastic pipe. Even after the boy collapses to the floor in pain, the assault continues, with his legs held down. At one point, chilli powder is thrown into his eyes. The authenticity of the video could not be independently verified.
Police identified the prime accused as Akshay Indulkar, who is alleged to have led the assault, and his wife Malini, who is seen throwing chilli powder into the victim&rsquo;s eyes. The couple, along with two others associated with the school, were initially detained for questioning. Akshay and Malini were formally arrested on Saturday.
Investigators said the video was recorded around three months ago by a cook who was later dismissed from the school. The footage reportedly surfaced after being leaked by a former employee, triggering widespread outrage among parents and the public.
Following the video&rsquo;s circulation, the boy&rsquo;s parents filed a police complaint. They stated that their son had been studying at the school for the past three years and that they were paying a monthly fee of ₹6,000. Based on the complaint, a first information report was registered.
Police officials said preliminary investigations revealed that the child had been involved in a fight with another student, after which teachers allegedly subjected him to severe physical punishment. A case has been registered under the Juvenile Justice Act along with relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The victim&rsquo;s mother said she was shattered after watching the footage of her son being assaulted by those entrusted with his care. She said she would continue to pursue action to ensure the school is permanently shut down to protect other children.
Authorities also found that the institution was operating without a mandatory licence. Acting on this violation, the Women and Child Development Department issued a notice and ordered the immediate closure of the residential school, bringing its operations to a complete halt.

Couple arrested after viral video shows brutal beating inside residential school

K’taka School Sealed After Disabled Teen Assault

Couple arrested after viral video shows brutal beating inside residential school

December 22, 2025 | 12:39 IST