Hyderabad Hotel Cheating Case: Guests Flee Without Paying ₹1.45 Lakh Bill
In a startling incident of alleged fraud, two guests who stayed at a prominent star hotel in Hyderabad's upscale Jubilee Hills area have been accused of leaving without settling bills totaling ₹1.45 lakh. The guests reportedly claimed to have transferred the payment through an international remittance platform, but the hotel later discovered the transaction was never completed, prompting police to register a formal cheating case.
Details of the Alleged Fraud
According to the official police complaint filed by the hotel's front office associate, the incident unfolded at the establishment located on Road No. 34 in Jubilee Hills. The two guests checked into the hotel on February 17 around 4 AM, having made their reservation through a popular online hotel booking platform. At the time of check-in, the guest who had booked the room informed hotel staff that he had transferred the full amount of ₹1.45 lakh via an online remittance service.
The guest even presented a transaction acknowledgement as proof of payment, leading hotel personnel to trust the verification and allow the guests to check in and utilize all available services. However, the hotel's finance department subsequently conducted a routine audit and found that the promised funds had never been credited to the hotel's bank account.
Deceptive Assurances and Sudden Disappearance
When confronted about the missing payment, the guest maintained that the amount had been debited from his account and suggested the hotel verify with their bank. He continued to stay at the property for several additional days, offering assurances that he would settle the bill in cash if the electronic transfer ultimately failed to process.
In the third week of February, when the guests became unresponsive to phone calls and were absent from their room, hotel staff reviewed security camera footage. The CCTV recordings revealed that the duo had actually vacated the premises around 2 PM on February 20, effectively fleeing without payment.
Breakdown of Unpaid Charges and Investigation
The hotel management provided a detailed breakdown of the outstanding charges, which included:
- Room charges amounting to ₹1.26 lakh
- Restaurant bills for meals and beverages
- In-room dining service charges
- Spa and wellness service fees
- Laundry and dry cleaning expenses
Hotel authorities were able to identify the guests through their Aadhaar records and also provided police with the Karnataka registration number of the vehicle used by the suspects. When the hotel contacted the remittance service provider directly, they were informed that the transaction had been either declined or cancelled, meaning the funds remained with the sender.
Police Action and Ongoing Investigation
Based on the formal complaint, Jubilee Hills police have registered a case under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to cheating offenses. A police official from the Jubilee Hills station commented on the investigation, stating, "They appear like fraudsters from other states. Our investigative teams are actively working on the available details to apprehend them."
The case highlights growing concerns about sophisticated payment frauds targeting hospitality establishments, where perpetrators use fake transaction confirmations to gain services without actual payment. Hotel industry representatives have emphasized the importance of verifying payments through official banking channels rather than relying solely on customer-provided documentation.
