‘Illegal Confinement’ At Chennai Hotel? Manipur And Mizoram Waiters Allege Assault

Chennai News: Three waiters from Manipur and Mizoram allege illegal confinement by hotel management after theft accusations. The police are investigating, with conflicting claims from the hotel and waiters.

A Chennai hotel was accused of illegal confinement and alleges embezzlement by three waiters.

Source : X/@aisrao

Chennai News: Three individuals from Manipur and Mizoram, employed as waiters at a bar in a Chennai hotel, have accused the hotel management of illegal confinement following allegations of theft. The alleged illegal confinement was brought to light when social worker Dr Aiswarya Rao in Saturday posted about the incident on X (formerly Twitter), prompting the Chennai Police to dispatch a team to the hotel.

Apparently some money in the bar is missing, so the Bar Management has illegally detained the workers since yesterday evening. Why didn't they call the police if money is missing? Why take things into their own hands?

— Aiswarya Rao (@aisrao) August 24, 2024

"Appropriate action will be taken based on the investigation," the police assured in a post on X. They also clarified, "It was about alleged cheating by the staff working in the above place. Police are enquiring," as stated by the Greater Chennai Police.

In this regard the Police enquiry is on. Based on the enquiry appropriate action will be taken. For further details in this regard please share your contact number in DM.

— GREATER CHENNAI POLICE -GCP (@chennaipolice_) August 24, 2024

It was about alleged cheating by the staff working in the above place. Police are enquiring.

— GREATER CHENNAI POLICE -GCP (@chennaipolice_) August 24, 2024

According to the workers, the management detained them after their work hours on Saturday, accusing them of stealing Rs 1.5 lakh. The Chennai Police reported that the waiters also claimed they were subjected to physical assault during their confinement, NDTV reported.

The hotel management, however, has denied these allegations, asserting instead that the waiters had embezzled the money, police sources told NDTV.

Chennai News: Waiters’ Response To Allegations

The waiters explained to the police that they would occasionally accept payments from customers via their personal Google Pay accounts when the hotel's card payment system failed. They stated that they would subsequently transfer the collected amount to the hotel after deducting 10 per cent as a tip, a practice reportedly common within the hotel for some time.

Both the hotel management and the waiters have lodged police complaints regarding the incident. "The waiters worked at Ignite Bar attached to Chennai Gateway. We are investigating. We are awaiting bank statements to verify the allegations. No one has been arrested yet," a police officer told NDTV. Of the three accused, one has been with the hotel for four years, another for a year, and the third had joined just four months ago, according to the police.