Bengaluru: The GT World Mall in Bengaluru, which recently made headlines for denying entry to an elderly farmer wearing a dhoti, has been ordered to close for a week and faces financial penalties. Officials from the civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) revealed that the mall has overdue property taxes totalling Rs 3.56 crore.
In response, BBMP issued a notice demanding the mall to settle its outstanding dues by July 31. Failure to comply could result in further closure of the mall. Additionally, the mall’s trade license has been suspended under Section 156 of the BBMP Act 2020 for non-payment of property tax arrears, with the property sealed accordingly.
The management of GT Mall disputed the amount stated by BBMP, claiming that only Rs 1.78 crore is overdue for two years of property tax.
The controversy arose when an elderly farmer was refused entry to the mall despite having purchased movie tickets, allegedly because he was dressed in a dhoti. The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media and prompted calls for action against the mall management. Opposition leaders criticized the state government over the incident.
In response to the backlash, Prashant, the owner of GT Mall, described the incident as regrettable and stated his intention to personally apologize to the farmer. He mentioned that his father had already spoken to the farmer over the phone, and he himself planned to meet the farmer in person to apologize.
The incident has ignited discussions on social norms and public decency, with many emphasizing the need for sensitivity and respect towards cultural diversity in public spaces.