Pune: Spice Factory Restaurant Staff Assault Customers With Beer Bottles After Dispute Over Service Charge In Bill
Kondhwa, 26th August 2023: A violent confrontation took place at the Spice Factory restaurant, situated on NIBM Road, Pune, on August 25th. The incident was sparked by a customer’s objection to service charges on their bill, leading restaurant staff to respond with derogatory remarks and a physical assault involving beer bottles and glass jars.
The Kondhwa police station has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the unidentified staff members of the Spice Factory. The charges listed include attempted murder (Section 307) and other relevant sections under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
According to the filed FIR, the incident occurred around 3:45 PM on Friday. Hujefa Mustafa Attarwala, a 38-year-old business professional from Mohammadwadi, had visited the restaurant accompanied by a friend. Upon scrutinizing their bill, which totaled Rs 2030, he noticed an additional charge of Rs 176.50 designated as a service charge. Seeking clarity on this addition, Attarwala approached the billing counter, where he was directed to speak with the manager.
The situation escalated abruptly when the restaurant’s manager, instead of addressing the query, responded with derogatory language aimed at Attarwala. Accusing him and his friend of attempting to evade payment, the manager’s insults were followed by a physical altercation. During this confrontation, the manager escalated the situation by labeling them as “beggars.” Despite Attarwala’s request to engage with the restaurant’s owners to resolve the issue, the manager persisted in his verbal attacks, further inflaming the atmosphere. This exchange took place in the presence of 2 to 4 staff members.
As tensions continued to mount, Attarwala sought the assistance of friends Aniket Pardeshi and Ram Tyagi to mediate the dispute. However, the arrival of Attarwala’s friends was misconstrued by the manager and staff members, leading to further escalation. The situation rapidly intensified, resulting in a tense confrontation between the two parties. The involvement of 5 to 6 hotel staff members further heightened the tension.
During the escalating confrontation, one of the restaurant’s staff members took aggressive action, assaulting Attarwala by striking him on the head with a glass jar and a beer bottle. This unprovoked attack left Attarwala injured. In a parallel incident, Aniket Pardeshi was subjected to a similar assault with a heavy object to the head, while Ram Tyagi sustained injuries to his head and right index finger caused by a sharp weapon.
Shockingly, even in attempts to defuse the situation, a female staff member resorted to physical aggression, targeting Attarwala’s female friend. In a shocking turn of events, a male staff member forcibly removed her t-shirt.
Following the incident, Attarwala and his companions reported the matter to the Kondhwa police station. After receiving medical treatment at Sassoon Hospital, an FIR was filed. However, no arrests have been made at this time.
Join Punekar News Whatsapp Group, Telegram, Instagram And Twitter For Regular Update about Pune City And Pimpri-Chinchwad
