BENGALURU, 29 JAN

Jito Tommy Joseph, the father of four-year-old Gianna Ann Jito who died after falling from the third floor of her pre-school on 25 January at Pallotti Nilaya Road, Challakere in Hennur police station limits, has said he suspects the CCTV footage at the school has been tampered with to cover up the crime. The pre-school has been closed by police pending investigation.

Speaking to Salar News from Kottayam in Kerala where the last rites of the child were held at her home town on Saturday, Joseph said: “I strongly suspect that the CCTV footage has been tampered with as a technician had gone to the school a day after the incident and worked on the CCTV.’’

The distraught father said, "We demand a fair probe into the incident and I strongly suspect the role of the nanny employed in the school for the cause of my child’s death. During interrogation, she said she had left my child alone and went downstairs with three other children. How can she leave a child alone on the third floor without supervision? We need to get complete clarity as to how she fell down.” He said the autopsy report is awaited which would then direct the probe in the right angle.

Hennur Police Inspector L Deepak told Salar News “This is a clear case of negligence which led to the death of the child and we are under the process of investigating and ensuring justice for the child.’’

School principal Thomas Cherian, who has obtained anticipatory bail in the case, said: “All our phones have been confiscated by the police and we are cooperating with the investigation.’’

Parents of some children studying in Delhi Pre School who did not wish to be named said they are in the process of stopping their child from attending the school considering the safety of their children. “I am taking my child out of that school immediately. Why should she study there when there is no safety for the young ones? My heart goes out to the family of Gianna,’’ said Jose Thomas, a parent.

P Jagadish, a shopkeeper located near the school, said: “How can the four-year-old child fall from the third floor. This whole story smacks of suspicion. Can the child scale the wall and fall to death? Why was she there on the third floor? The police should ensure that justice is provided for the child and her parents’’

The victim’s father said: “The school initially said Gianna hit a wall at the day-care, fell and vomited. The school admitted only later that she fell from the terrace. It is mysterious why the child was on the terrace in the first place.’’

Her parents, Joseph and Binitta Thomas, are both software engineers and the family moved to Bengaluru seven months ago. Those who knew the family said the talented child loved to compose songs and was the apple of the eye of her parents and was so friendly that she could strike up a conversation with complete strangers.

Hennur police, who had registered an FIR under IPC section 338 against school principal Thomas Cherian for causing grievous hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety of others, have now converted the case into one of causing death due to negligence under IPC section 304A.