Startup founders barred from Bengaluru restaurant for wearing ‘slippers’

Bengaluru :  Just days after a farmer was allegedly denied entry to Bengaluru’s GT World Mall on Magadi Main Road for wearing “panche” (traditional attire), a similar incident has come to light involving two startup founders.

Ganesh Sonawane, Founder and CEO of Frido, and Swapnil Jain, Co-founder of Ather, shared their experience on social media platform X, recounting how they were denied entry to a Bengaluru restaurant for wearing slippers instead of shoes. Sonawane wrote, “True story: Swapnil, Ather Co-founder, and I were once denied entry to a Bengaluru restaurant because we were wearing slippers instead of shoes.”

The post garnered numerous responses from netizens, many sharing their own experiences with dress code policies in the city.

One user commented, “During my first time in the city, I faced a similar situation on MG Road.” Another added, “A politician in the same clothing is okay though—gotta love those double standards.”

Another user pointed out, “Panche/Dhoti is formal Indian attire. Denying entry due to slippers isn’t the same and can be justified if the restaurant has a dress code.”

Others noted, “Have faced the same in Bangalore. Denied entry for not wearing shoes,” and “If a restaurant is upfront about their dress code, it should be okay. Dress code isn’t discrimination as long as it’s clear and respectful.”

In a related incident, Kempapura Agrahara police registered a case against the owner and security guard of GT World Mall after the farmer’s exclusion. The case, filed under Section 126(2) (punishment for wrongful restraint) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), led to protests by pro-Kannada and farmers’ groups. Activists gathered at the mall’s entrance, some wearing ‘panches’ in solidarity. The mall authorities later issued an apology.