Bengaluru: Customer Shocked After Cockroach Found in Paneer Gravy, Complaint Filed Against Hotel

Bengaluru: A four star hotel in Bengaluru is in dock after a cockroach was found in the meal ordered by a Karnataka High court woman lawyer on Thursday. The matter escalated further when the hotel staff allegedly dragged, pushed and threatened the lawyer when she reprimanded the hotel staff over the same.

The incident took place in a hotel named Capitol on Thursday. A cockroach was found in an afternoon meal ordered by Shilpa, who had gone for lunch to the said hotel.  An FIR has been registered at Vidhana Soudha police station under IPC sections 352, 341, 504, 506. 

DCP Central, Shekhar speaking to Republic said that "A lawyer lodged a complaint with the Vidhana Soudha police station yesterday. The lawyer had gone for lunch at a private hotel. The cockroach was found while eating food at around three o'clock on Jan 4, 2024. She immediately called the police and the food inspector. After this, she went to the kitchen and started videography with her mobile phone about the preparation of the meal. The staff allegedly pushed the lawyer and abused her. Following this, a complaint was lodged against the two members of the hotel. An FIR has been registered in this regard and investigation is underway." 

Multiple videos obtained by Republic depict the disturbing state of affairs within the star hotel on Raj Bhavan Road, situated diagonally opposite the governor's residence. In one video, a dead cockroach is visible in the paneer gravy ordered by the lawyer. Another recording by Shilpa reveals a cluttered kitchen with unwashed utensils, dirty tea and coffee cups, and a stove that appears to have been neglected for years.

Shilpa Deepak, the lawyer involved, expressed her dismay, describing the hotel's kitchen as a "Nightmare" and worse than a "dump yard." When she raised concerns about the cockroach, the staff allegedly dismissed it casually. Shilpa resorted to filming the unsanitary conditions in the kitchen, leading to physical altercation with two hotel staff members. “I was attacked while filming their dirty kitchen. When I pointed about the cockroach in the food, the staff who attended it dismissed it off casually and said order would be cancelled. They do not even care about what the customer wants, therefore I went inside the kitchen and was shocked to see how dirty it was. I started filming it when two hotel staff pushed and pulled me around,” added Shilpa. 

Despite multiple attempts by Republic to seek clarification from the hotel management, there has been no response. The incident sheds light on the need for hygiene standards in hospitality establishments and the importance of addressing customer concerns promptly.