Bengaluru Mall Denies Entry To Farmer In Dhoti, Admits Mistake Amid Outrage And Sealing Notice

On Thursday, civic authorities in Bengaluru decided to seal a mall due to unpaid property taxes, just two days after an elderly farmer was denied entry into the shopping complex because he was wearing a dhoti.

The incident involved Fakirappa, a 62-year-old farmer from Haveri district, who was visiting his son in Bengaluru. The incident at GT World Mall sparked outrage and calls for action against the mall.

As the incident escalated and was discussed in the Assembly on Thursday, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) acted against the mall, located on Magadi Main Road, citing property tax arrears of Rs 1.78 crore.

A BBMP official explained that the mall had not paid property tax for the year 2023-24. “A notice was issued earlier but since the payment has not been received yet, we decided to shut the mall,” the officer said.

Fakirappa expressed his gratitude to the media for their support, stating, “I thank the media for standing by me and farmers. I never thought I would get such support from the public, government and media. I am happy that everyone stood by me. This is a lesson for the malls that nobody should be denied entry over attire.”

Recounting the event, Fakirappa mentioned he traveled to Bengaluru to visit his son Nagaraj, an MBA graduate working as a technician in the Kannada film industry.

On Tuesday, Nagaraj took his parents to the mall for a movie at around 6 pm. Upon arrival, security staff stopped Fakirappa, stating that men in dhotis were not allowed inside.

Despite persistent appeals from Nagaraj and Fakirappa, the security supervisor remained firm, indicating that even women in nighties would be refused entry. He added that no mall permits people in such attire.

On Wednesday, Fakirappa commented, “I am a farmer and have travelled a long distance to see my son. He took us to the mall. I was denied entry for wearing a dhoti. I told my son to return home, but he questioned such rules. I had never come across such an incident.”

Nagaraj recounted, “I asked the security staff for the reason and was told that my father was wearing a dhoti and that is why he was stopped. I spoke with a friend but they did not allow us in for 30 minutes. Then I called my friends and after the media arrived, they let us go inside when we were about to leave.”

A video showing the father and son pleading with mall security quickly circulated on social media, attracting significant criticism.

A mall employee, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The Indian Express that there was no written dress code, but they had oral instructions not to permit individuals in “dirty clothes.”

On Thursday, the owner of GT World Mall, Prashanth admitted to The Indian Express, “I am taking the total responsibility for the mistake that has happened from our end.”

Acknowledging receipt of notices regarding the dues, he added, “The BBMP has sought explanation… We are closing down the mall from today (Thursday) even before getting a sealing notice. We have already spoken to all the shops and multiplexes in the mall. We will open after the issue gets cleared.”

The controversy over traditional attire comes as the Congress-led government in Karnataka strives to promote Kannada and local interests, including a Bill for job quotas in the private sector for local candidates.

Earlier on Thursday, the issue was raised in the Assembly, with Speaker U T Khader calling for government action against the mall. “I saw the episode in the media. A villager comes to Bengaluru and his son has taken him to the mall to make him happy. The entry denied over traditional dress of the state is unacceptable. No matter who the owner is, action should be initiated and condemn the incident. This incident must be a lesson to other malls,” he said.

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka noted that similar incidents have been discussed many times without resolution. “I remember a committee was formed headed by Congress MLA N A Haris and he had submitted a report. But it has not been implemented yet,” he said.

State Urban Development and Town Planning Minister Byrathi Suresh, representing the government, condemned the incident and announced that the mall would be closed for seven days.

In February, a Metro station in Bengaluru also faced backlash after security staff denied entry to a man due to his “dirty clothes.” The man, seen in a viral video wearing a white shirt and carrying a bundle of clothes, led to the suspension of the security officer involved.