Bengaluru’s Mantri Mall faces backlash after staff denies lift access to delivery executive. Video
A controversial incident at Bengaluru's Mantri Mall, where a food delivery executive was barred from using the lift, has sparked social media outrage.
A recent incident at Bengaluru’s Mantri Mall has sparked widespread backlash after allegations surfaced that a food delivery executive was denied access to the lift by mall staff. The controversy has gained significant attention on social media, where users have accused the mall of discriminatory behavior against service workers.

READ | 70-year-old farmer denied entry to Bengaluru mall over traditional attire: Report
The incident has ignited public outrage, with many condemning the treatment of delivery personnel who play a crucial role in everyday urban life. A video of an interaction between a delivery executive, other mall goers and the mall staff went viral on social media, which prompted several social media users to criticise the mall’s policies, questioning, "Does allowing delivery executives to use the lift harm the dignity of your mall?"
This uproar comes on the heels of a similar incident at Bengaluru’s GT World Mall, where a farmer in traditional attire was denied entry. That case led to significant public outcry and even reached the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, resulting in the government issuing guidelines to malls on such issues.
The GT World Mall was also penalised by the Bengaluru civic body BBMP, including a week-long closure enforced by officials. Many are drawing parallels between the two cases, reigniting debates about class discrimination and respect for individuals across all professions.
Watch the video here:
As anger spread, social media users demanded stronger measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Calls for accountability also grew louder, with several Bengaluru residents urging authorities to investigate the matter and implement policies to ensure equitable treatment. One X user remarked, "Everywhere it is the same, not only Mantri mall, but in other malls and apartments also.”
However, another replied with, “All malls and apartments have service lifts, which should be used.”
Meanwhile, the Mantri Mall has yet to issue a public response to the accusations.
ABOUT THE AUTHORYamini C SYamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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