BC daycare owner arrested, accused of assaulting kids as young as 2 years old

Troubling allegations against the owner and operator of a daycare in East Abbotsford have led to an arrest and multiple charges.

Police say 60-year-old Indu Takhar from Smile ‘N’ Play Daycare was arrested on Tuesday, Feb. 4, and has now been charged with six counts of assault.

According to Abbotsford Police Department (APD) media relations officer Cst. Jody Thomas, Takhar has been released from custody under several court-ordered conditions.

Those conditions include not going to any daycare centres and having no contact with any person under the age of 16.

While the investigation into Takhar began in October 2024, the alleged assaults on children aged 2-6 date back to 2022.

“Over the past few months, the APD Major Crime Unit diligently followed the evidence and advanced the investigation,” Cst. Thomas explained.

The Smile ‘N’ Play Daycare website says it was founded by Takhar, a mother of two, in 2019.

In a Reddit post made on March 3, 2023, a former employee of the daycare warned parents not to enroll their children there.

“I had to leave that centre after a month of working there as an early childhood educator because of the deplorable and inappropriate behaviours I watched the director target towards the children, as well as fellow employees,” the user wrote.

“I beg of anyone to not allow their child to attend that centre. It is an unsafe and damaging environment.”

According to Google listings, Smile 'N' Play Daycare has three locations in Abbotsford and two of them are on McKinley Drive in East Abbotsford.

Anyone with information that could advance the probe into Takhar is urged to contact the APD detectives at 604-859-5225.