Denied entry to man wearing dhoti; mall temporarily shut down in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has taken strong action against a private mall in Bengaluru that denied entry to a farmer for wearing a dhoti. The government on Thursday issued an order imposing a closure of the GT Mall on Magadi Road for 7 days.

Minister for Urban Development and Town Planning Bhyrathi Suresh made the announcement in the Karnataka Assembly. “As per the government laws, the GT Mall will be shut for seven days for denying entry to the farmer into the mall,” Minister Suresh stated.

On Tuesday evening, a septuagenarian farmer Fakirappa from Haveri district, accompanied by his son Nagaraj and wife Mallamma, was denied entry to GT World Mall on Magadi Road, in Bengaluru citing his attire as he was clad in dhoti.

The incident sparked a row as the video of the incident went viral on social media. The management of the mall tendered an apology and the security guard also apologised for the incident.

Meanwhile, the police have registered a case against the owner of the mall and the security employees.

Fakirappa's family had booked tickets for a Kannada movie and his family was stopped at the entrance despite having the tickets. The security guards maintained that people wearing dhoti were not allowed in the mall.