Food row takes new turn; SIT to probe matter

Jalandhar:The controversy over a dispute, which arose between a group of youths and the owner of a local hotel over the alleged serving of food with some foreign material in one of the dishes, has taken a new turn with the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the matter by SSP Ishwar Singh on the one hand and with allegations levelled by the hotel owners that entire ‘drama’ was enacted at the instance of land mafia, which wanted to usurp one of their hotels.

According to Mr Harcharanjit Singh, owner of a local hotel, a group of four youths came to dine at a hotel, owned by his brother Preet Mohinder Singh. After some time, they started objecting that one of dishes served by hotel contained a small ‘stone’ and said that they would not pay for the food. Though this was agreed upon by Preet Mohinder Singh, the youths then started alleging that the food had some insect.

As the hotel staff tendered an apology and said they need not pay for the food served to them the youths started alleging that the hotel management had used casteist remarks and left the place. “The next day we were surprised to find that an FIR was got registered by youths against me and my brothers Preet Mohinder Singh and Brij Mohan Singh. Actually, none of us had neither abused them nor used casteist remarks as we don’t believe in casteism. Moreover, I and my brother Brijmohan were present at a meeting at the Punjab Press Club at that time. This can be verified. Still a case was registered to frame us,� said Harcharanjit Singh, brother of Preet Mohinder Singh. He said this was another move by the same “land mafia�, run by a local leader, which wanted to usurp his hotel.

Meanwhile, the incident has caused a scare among those associated with the hotel industry. “This way any hotel owner can be subjected to harassment by anybody. The false case should be withdrawn,� said Mr Parmjit Singh Buddhiraja, the president of the Punjab Hotel and Restaurant Association.

Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, said no injustice would be done to anybody. “The SIT, to be led by SP Pawan Rai, will verify the facts. We feel that the case is doubtful. We assure that justice will be done and anyone found guilty will have to face the music as per the law of the land,� said Mr Ishwar Singh.