Hyderabad: Businessman flees #TajBanjara without paying Rs. 12 lakh bill
A real estate businessman, who stayed in the five-star Taj Banjara hotel in Hyderabad for 102 days, allegedly fled without clearing bills worth Rs. 12.34 lakh, police said. The Hyderabad police have also registered a case based on the complaint lodged by the management of the five-star hotel. The businessman was reportedly identified as Akkichetty Shankar Narayan from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Here's more.
Man paid Rs. 13.62L of total Rs. 25.96L bill: Management
According to Taj Banjara's management, Narayan stayed in a luxury suite for 102 days. While his total bill was worth Rs. 25.96 lakh, he allegedly left the hotel in April without informing anyone after paying only Rs. 13.62 lakh of the total bill. When the hotel staff contacted Narayan, he reportedly promised to clear the remaining bill but later switched off his phone.
Taj Banjara's General Manager, Hitendra Sharma, lodges police complaint
Taj Banjara hotel's General Manager, Hitendra Sharma, lodged a complaint at the Banjara Hills police station. The police have registered a case against Narayan under Sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code. "We have registered a case on the complaint by the hotel management and launched investigations," Banjara Hills Sub-Inspector P Ravi told news agency IANS.
Narayan stayed for 102 nights on different dates: Sharma
Sharma reportedly filed the police complaint on August 6. "Narayan first checked into the hotel on April 4, 2018. He stayed for 102 nights on different dates," he alleged. "On April 15 this year, he vanished from the hotel without informing anybody. The balance amount against Narayan as on the date of his absconding is Rs. 12.34 lakh," the complainant alleged.
Narayan approached hotel management, requested room at a special rate
Sharma said that Narayan had first approached them in April last year and requested for a room at Taj Banjara, saying he wanted it at a special rate for a long stay, reported TOI. "We acceded to his request and initially provided him room number 405. He checked in on April 4. His reservation card number was 107315805," the complainant said.
Credits department rigorously tried to recover balance amount: Sharma
"The total amount for (Narayan's) entire stay of 102 nights was Rs. 25.96 lakh. Before absconding, he paid Rs. 13.62 lakh," Sharma said. "Credits department rigorously tried to get the balance...from him but in vain. He kept on postponing on some pretext or the other. When our team tried to contact Narayan on June 26 this year, his phone was switched off," he alleged.
My reputation is tarnished; will handle the case legally: Narayan
Meanwhile, Narayan has denied the charges, saying that didn't cheat the hotel by running away without paying the bill. "I am a real estate businessman...I checked out of Taj Banjara after clearing the dues. I have no idea why the hotel has filed a police complaint against me," he told TOI. He said, "My reputation is tarnished. I will handle the case legally."
