“Hum Marathi Nahi Hain”: Passenger Beaten by IRCTC Pantry Staff After Overcharging Complaint
Reported by Amit Singh
Ratlam/Jabalpur, 19th July 2025: A video showing a passenger being physically assaulted by pantry staff onboard the Somnath Express (Train No. 11463) has gone viral, triggering widespread outrage. The incident occurred on July 15 after the passenger filed a complaint about overcharging by the train’s pantry contractor.
The altercation, captured in a video widely circulated on social media, shows multiple individuals, some wearing catering staff uniforms, assaulting the passenger inside a sleeper coach. During the assault, one of the attackers can be heard using abusive language and referencing the passenger’s regional identity, prompting the victim to respond, “Hum Marathi nahi hain.” The language used in the video has also sparked commentary amid ongoing regional tensions.
According to reports, the passenger had lodged a complaint through the Railway Seva platform regarding being overcharged for food and water items. Following standard procedure, the passenger’s complaint, along with personal details such as PNR and seat number, was shared with IRCTC and subsequently passed on to the food contractor managing services onboard. The contractor’s staff allegedly confronted the passenger and physically assaulted him en route.
Railway officials confirmed the incident occurred while the train was passing through Baroda Division on July 15. The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Jabalpur later stated that the pantry contractor in question would be blacklisted. “We are in touch with IRCTC to cancel the pantry contract on this train,” the DRM added.
Police personnel deboarded the involved catering staff at Dahod station (under Ratlam Division), and the case was handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Godhra. FIRs have been filed against the accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. The IRCTC has since cancelled the side pantry contract for the train.
The case has prompted passengers and social media users to question the safety of individuals who raise legitimate service-related complaints. A viral comment on social media reads: “Complaints should be investigated by a third party. Sharing passenger details with the very people the complaint is against, and then forcing direct contact, makes no sense.”
The incident has reignited concerns around complaint redressal mechanisms on Indian Railways and raised questions over the protocols followed after passenger grievances are submitted.
