Northeast Desk, 26th August: In a disturbing incident, three employees of Chennai Gateway Hotel have accused the hotel management of illegally detaining and assaulting them over allegations of theft. The employees, reportedly hailing from Manipur and Mizoram, claim they were confined to a hotel room and beaten after being accused of stealing Rs 1.5 lakh from the Ignite Bar within the hotel premises.
According to the waitstaff, they were forcibly detained on Saturday evening and subjected to physical abuse by the management, who accused them of financial misappropriation. The employees asserted that this accusation was fabricated and that they had been engaging in a routine practice where, due to a malfunction in the hotel’s card payment system, they accepted payments into their personal Google Pay accounts. The funds were then transferred to the hotel’s account, with the waiters retaining a 10% tip—a practice they claim was known and accepted by the hotel management.
The issue gained public attention when Dr. Aiswarya Rao, a social worker, highlighted the incident on the social media platform X. This prompted a response from the Chennai Police, who have since launched an investigation into the matter. Authorities are currently awaiting bank statements to verify the financial transactions and the claims made by both the staff and the management.
“The investigation is ongoing, and we are examining the case from all angles,” said a police officer involved in the case. “No arrests have been made so far, but we will take appropriate action based on the evidence we gather.”
The accused staff members have varying tenures at the hotel, with one having worked there for four years, another for one year, and the third for four months. The incident has raised concerns about employee rights and the treatment of workers in the hospitality industry, especially in cases where serious allegations are made.