Jagsheer Singh of Queens was charged with first-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. His bail has been set at USD 200,000.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said that according to the charges, the baby's mother Reena Malhotra left her son with her husband Singh on the night of December 19 before going to work.
According to statements made by Singh, the next morning he checked on the baby and found him covered in feces and took the baby into the shower.
An examination of the baby at a children's medical center later revealed that the baby suffered multiple severe skull fractures, widespread brain injury resulting from lack of oxygen and retinal hemorrhages.
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It is alleged that in examining the baby, medical personnel concluded that the baby's injuries were inconsistent with Singh's account of a short fall from the changing table but rather consistent with the non-accidental inflicted trauma of abusive head trauma.
"Instead of protecting and nurturing this helpless, innocent baby, the defendant is accused of tragically assaulting his son and causing skull fractures and widespread brain injury. The baby is in grave condition and if he does not survive the charges will be upgraded," Brown said.