BENGALURU: GT Mall, which denied entry to an elderly farmer earlier this week for wearing apanche (dhoti), was Thursday sealed by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for not clearing taxes totaling ₹1.8 crore for 2023-24.
The owner of the mall later expressed regret over the humiliation meted out to farmer and said they were downing their shutters for a week.
BBMP officials arrived at the mall around 11am and sealed the premises, citing unpaid taxes.
A senior revenue official announced that civic officials who had failed to collect the taxes would also face suspension for negligence.
An FIR has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) section 126 (2) for wrongful restraint and voluntary obstruction of a person from proceeding in any direction s/he has the right to. The complainant, social activist Dharmaraj Gowda from Nagarabavi, has sought legal action against the mall owner and security guard Arun for insulting the farmer, Fakeerappa, on Tuesday.
The issue was also discussed in the assembly, and state govt said there were provisions in the law to shut the mall for insulting the farmer.