Bengaluru mall denies entry to farmer in dhoti, admits ‘mistake’ after outrage, shutdown notice

As the incident snowballed, with the matter figuring in the Assembly Thursday, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) took action against the mall, which is located on Magadi main road, saying it owes Rs 1.78 crore in property tax.

A BBMP officer said the mall had failed to pay 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.

Later in the evening, Fakirappa told The Indian Express, “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.”

Narrating the incident earlier, Fakirappa had said he travelled to Bengaluru to meet his son Nagaraj, an MBA graduate who works in the Kannada film industry as a technician.

On Tuesday, Nagaraj took his parents to the mall for a movie around 6 pm. As they were about to enter the mall, the security staff stopped Fakirappa, saying dhoti-clad men are not allowed inside.

Despite repeated pleas from Nagaraj and Fakirappa, the security supervisor did not relent, saying even women wearing nighties would not be allowed inside. He said no mall would allow people in such attire.

On Wednesday, Fakirappa said, “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 said, “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.”

Mall denies entry to farmer in dhoti, admits ‘mistake’

A video of the father and son pleading with the mall security to let them in started doing the rounds on social media, drawing severe criticism.

A mall employee, who did not want to be named, told The Indian Express that although there is no written instruction on dress code, they had an oral instruction to not allow people in “dirty clothes”.

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

Confirming that they received notices over the dues, he said, “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.”

Incidentally, the controversy over local attire comes amid efforts by the Congress-led government in Karnataka to promote Kannada and domicile interests, the latest a Bill for job quota in private sector for “local candidates”.

Earlier on Thursday, the issue came up in the Assembly with Speaker U T Khader saying the government should take 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 said similar incidents have been discussed many times in the House but nothing has yielded. “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 said on behalf of the government that they condemn the incident and will close the mall for seven days.

In February this year, security staff at a Metro station here denied a man entry citing his “dirty clothes”. In a video that circulated on social media, the man was seen wearing a white shirt and carrying a bundle of clothes on his head. The security officer was suspended after the video triggered outrage.