Kolkata techie denied accommodation at Noida hotel for being Bengali

A techie from New Town, Kolkata, and his 14-year-old son were allegedly denied accommodation at a hotel in Noida’s Sector 44 on Tuesday, reportedly on the grounds of being Bengali. The son, a national level skater, was in the city to participate in a championship.

According to the father, who had booked a two night stay at the hotel via OYO, the receptionist refused check-in, stating that local police had instructed hotels not to allow guests from Bangladesh, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir to stay until August 15 due to security concerns.

Claim of discriminatory remarks

Speaking to TOI, the father said, “The receptionist said the local police instructed them not to allow any guest from Bangladesh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. I was surprised. I said we were not Bangladeshis but were from West Bengal. But the receptionist said it was the same thing and that he wouldn't let us in.”


The guest claimed he made multiple calls to OYO’s customer service, and eventually, a representative informed him that his payment would be refunded within 7 to 10 days. He then arranged alternative accommodation in Sector 49, farther from the event venue. He had originally chosen the Sector 44 hotel because of its proximity to the skating rink, where event registrations were scheduled to begin early the next morning.

OYO removes hotel from platform

OYO later issued an apology and confirmed that the hotel, Meera Eternity, had been removed from its platform the same day. An inquiry was also initiated. In its statement, OYO clarified, “OYO has neither received nor given any such guideline to hotels on its platform. OYO does not promote any form of discrimination.”

No police directive to ban guests from any state

When contacted, Noida DCP Yamuna Prasad said no such instructions were issued by the police. “Hotels are told to check ID and visa documents of people from Bangladesh, but there is no directive to disallow stay to even Bangladeshi residents if they have proper papers,” he told TOI, adding that no restrictions were in place against Indian citizens from any state.

(With inputs from TOI)