Kamal Ghorui
Bengaluru: A guest who checked into a hotel on Palace Road for a short stay ended up enjoying its hospitality for 63 days in a suite — and nearly 196 days overall — without clearing his dues. The dispute over prolonged stay finally landed in court, which ordered him to pay the full outstanding amount along with interest.The saga began on March 27, 2025, when Radisson Blu Atria allotted a room to Mohamad Rafeeque Pallivalappil, a 65-year-old resident of Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, and managing director of OnlineFarms Gate India Pvt Ltd, Kochi, at a tariff of Rs 5,737.5 per day plus GST.At his request, the hotel upgraded his stay to the more expensive suite on Aug 6, 2025. The revised tariff was communicated through phone calls and WhatsApp messages, and the guest continued to occupy the suite.While an initial payment of Rs 80,000 was made, the guest soon became irregular in clearing the room rent. Despite repeated reminders and demands from the hotel management, he neither cleared the mounting dues nor vacated the premises. As per hotel’s records, by Oct 8, 2025, the total bill had escalated to Rs 12.9 lakh. Against this, payments amounting to Rs 3.2 lakh were received, leaving an outstanding balance of about Rs 9.7 lakh.Left with no option, the hotel issued a legal notice on Oct 24, 2025. In a reply dated Nov 6, the guest admitted the liability and issued a cheque dated Nov 7 for Rs 10 lakh. However, it was returned unpaid with the endorsement “insufficient funds.” Despite this, the guest continued to occupy the suite.With no way out, the hotel, represented by its manager, filed a civil suit on Dec 4 with the LXXXVI additional city civil & sessions court (commercial court). Though summons were served and a memo of undertaking filed, the defendant failed to appear before the court or file a written statement. He remained absent and was placed ex parte.After examining the records (invoices, legal notice, and bounced cheque), the court recorded that, on Dec 6, a bailiff was appointed to open the suite, following which possession was taken back and belongings worth Rs 5,000 were inventoried and handed over, making eviction unnecessary.
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The court observed that records clearly established the guest’s stay, mounting dues, partial payment, and outstanding dues. It noted that the defendant had admitted liability in his reply and issued a Rs 10 lakh cheque, which was dishonoured due to insufficient funds. With no rebuttal evidence and the defendant remaining ex parte, the court found no reason to disbelieve the hotel’s claims.The bench, presided over by judge Jithendranath CS, on March 13, ordered the defendant to pay Rs 15.8 lakh with interest at 18% per annum from Nov 17, 2025, till realisation. The court also directed him to pay damages at Rs 15,750 per day plus GST from the date of suit till Dec 9, 2025.
