Meredien's plea on German woman rejected

The Delhi High Court rejects the plea for exemption from paying compensation to a German woman, who has accused the owner of a jewellery shop operating in the hotel of attempting to rape her.

The Delhi High Court has rejected the plea of a five-star hotel in New Delhi for exemption from paying compensation to a German woman, a flight attendant with German Air Force, who has accused the owner of a jewellery shop operating in the hotel premises of attempting to rape her.

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In a recent order, Justice BD Ahmed declined to drop the names of hotel Le Meridien and its CMD Harjeet Kaur in the case while rejecting their submission that the accused was in no way associated with the hotel.

Susanne Lenatz, a flight attendant with German Airforce, had stayed with a delegation led by German federal minister for economic affairs in the hotel in November 1996.

She had gone for shopping in a jewellery shop in the hotel premises where the shop owner had allegedly attempted to rape her.

She further alleged that she had also received some injuries due to the assault.

Three years after the incident she filed a suit demanding compensation against Le Meridien hotel and its CMD, besides the shop owner.