Hyderabad: Two guests who stayed at a star hotel in Jubilee Hills allegedly left without paying bills worth ₹1.45 lakh after claiming they had transferred the amount through an international remittance platform, prompting police to register a cheating case.According to police, the complaint was filed by the front office associate at the hotel located on Road No. 34 in Jubilee Hills. He alleged that the two guests checked into the hotel on Feb 17 around 4 am after making a reservation through an online hotel booking platform. The complainant said that at the time of check-in, the guest who booked the room informed hotel staff that he had transferred ₹1.45 lakh through an online remittance service and showed a transaction acknowledgement. Relying on the confirmation, the hotel allowed the guests to check in and avail themselves of its services. However, the hotel’s finance department later found that the amount had not been credited to the hotel’s bank account. “When questioned, the guest told us that the amount had been debited from his side and asked us to verify with their bank. He continued to stay for few more days, assuring that he would settle the bill in cash if the transfer did not go through,” the complainant alleged. In the third week of Feb, when the guests stopped responding to calls and were not found in the room, hotel staff checked CCTV footage and realised that they had left the premises around 2 pm on Feb 20. The hotel said the unpaid amount includes room charges of ₹1.26 lakh along with restaurant bills, in-room dining, spa services and laundry charges. The two guests were identified through Aadhaar records, and the Karnataka registration number of the vehicle used by them was also provided to police. Cheating caseWhen the hotel contacted the remittance service provider, they were informed that the transaction had been declined or cancelled and the funds remained with the sender. Based on the complaint, Jubilee Hills police registered a case under section 318(4) (cheating) of the BNS against the duo. “They appear like fraudsters from other states. Our teams are working on the available details to nab them,” said a Jubilee Hills police official.
