Following Jaipur protest, FIR registered against unidentified cow vigilantes who attacked Hyatt Rabbani run hotel

By A Representative
Following protests in Jaipur, India's pink city, against “illegal” shutting down Hotel Hyatt Rabbani, the police on March 22 was forced to register first information report (FIR) against the cow vigilantes who had attacked the hotel for allegedly cooking beef in its kitchen. The attack, which took place on March 19, saw the hotel staff being badly thrashed in the presence of the police.
Among those who protested against the attack on the hotel included civil society activists, left party workers, women, Dalit and minority rights groups. They took place in front the Jaipur Police Commissioner's office at Shahid Smarak in Jaipur with the participation of more than 2,500 people.
Ever since the cow vigilantes' attack, Rabbani had been trying to file FIR, but in vain. On March 22, the police registered FIR, though the IPC sections applied to the violence are all bailable, such as unlawful assembly (143), simple battery (323) and trespass (451).

The WhatsApp message which triggered the attack

“The text of Rabbani’s FIR gave the names of the actors but even the name of the sadhvi, who led the cow vigilante group and slapped the receptionist Wasim has not been named”, alleges a People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) statement.
Ahead of the attack, Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) mayor Ashok Lahoti said in a WhatsApp group message that beef was being served in the hotel, hence it should be sealed. The cow vigilantes reached up to the hotel, attacked staff, even as chanting slogans like “Jai Shree Ram”, “Narendra Modi ki Jai”, “Rabbani Murdabad”, and “Bharat Mata ki jai.”
The guests occupying 20-odd rooms left amidst an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, as they were told the hotel “cooked beef”. The hotel, situated at KC Road, Banipark, Jaipur, was sealed and seized by JMC at 11pm after the cow vigilantes held it into hostage for five hours.
Feels Kavita Shrivastava of PUCL, Rajasthan, the attack came the wake of hardline Hindutva leader Yogi Adiyanath taking over as Uttar Pradesh chief minister, which has “emobldened” Rajasthan's cow vigilante groups.
The six-years-old hotel, interestingly, had been applying for license for the last three years. The owner, Naeem Rabbani, claims that the JMC has been refusing to give license despite the that the hotel is “regularly and filing commercial taxes” because “the JMC is ridden with bribes and red tape”, adding, “Most of the hotels after 2005 have not received their licenses.”

Rabbani at police station on March 19

Interestingly, neither chief minister Vijaya Raje Scindia, nor any other representatives of the state government, not even the biggest opposition party, the Congress, issued a statement in this regard.
In fact, according to the PUCL activist, Rabbani was “not feel safe” to go back to his hotel with the cow vigilantes reached the hotel on March 19. He went to the police station, but when “he realised that the police was working in tandem with the sadhvi, he left.”
The hotel has a very small kitchen used by the inhouse staff. Earlier, the hotel used to have room service, but it was closed it two years ago as supplying food was found to an expensive investment with little returns.
Charged under the Rajasthan Bovine Animal (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act, 1995, Rabbani and others can be punished for up to 10 years' imprisonment if found guilty.

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Stronger India–Russia partnership highlights a missed energy breakthrough

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was widely publicized across several countries and has attracted significant global attention. The warmth with which Mr. Putin was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was particularly noted, prompting policy planners worldwide to examine the implications of this cordial relationship for the global economy and political climate. India–Russia relations have stood on a strong foundation for decades and have consistently withstood geopolitical shifts. This is in marked contrast to India’s ties with the United States, which have experienced fluctuations under different U.S. administrations.

Concerns raised over move to rename MGNREGA, critics call it politically motivated

By A Representative Concerns have been raised over the Union government’s reported move to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), with critics describing it as a politically motivated step rather than an administrative reform. They argue that the proposed change undermines the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and seeks to appropriate credit for a programme whose relevance has been repeatedly demonstrated, particularly during times of crisis.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

From natural farming to fair prices: Young entrepreneurs show a new path

By Bharat Dogra There have been frequent debates on agro-business companies not showing adequate concern for the livelihoods of small farmers. Farmers’ unions have often protested—generally with good reason—that while they do not receive fair returns despite high risks and hard work, corporate interests that merely process the crops produced by farmers earn disproportionately high profits. Hence, there is a growing demand for alternative models of agro-business development that demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting farmer livelihoods.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

Thota Sitaramaiah: An internal pillar of an underground organisation

By Harsh Thakor* Thota Sitaramaiah was regarded within his circles as an example of the many individuals whose work in various underground movements remained largely unknown to the wider public. While some leaders become visible through organisational roles or media attention, many others contribute quietly, without public recognition. Sitaramaiah was considered one such figure. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

School job scam and the future of university degree holders in West Bengal

By Harasankar Adhikari The school recruitment controversy in West Bengal has emerged as one of the most serious governance challenges in recent years, raising concerns about transparency, institutional accountability, and the broader impact on society. Allegations that school jobs were obtained through irregular means have led to prolonged legal scrutiny, involving both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India. In one instance, a panel for high school teacher recruitment was ultimately cancelled after several years of service, following extended judicial proceedings and debate.

Search This Blog