Woman hailing from Darjeeling alleges racial discrimination by Delhi nightclub

A woman hailing from Darjeeling based in the Capital has alleged that she was subjected to racial profiling by the management of a popular nightclub located in the premises of a high-end hotel in Connaught Place on the intervening night of October 19-20.

Bidhya, who works for an overseas education counselling firm, told National Herald that she was accompanying a group of six other friends and colleagues to celebrate the birthday of one of them at Hotel Shangri La’s Privee nightclub when she was allegedly prevented from gaining entry to it just because she ‘looked different’.

“My friends had pre-booked 6 entry passes for the club, and we offered to buy a seventh one when they blocked our entry. One of my friends even offered to stay out to let me go in but the club’s management flatly refused to let me enter,” she claimed.

“I hail from a good family and was dressed simply, but it was obvious that the only reason I was denied entry was because of my north-eastern looks. It was an extremely traumatic incident for me,” she added.

When National Herald called up the hotel, it said the nightclub was located in their premises but managed by a third party, and offered to share its contact number. This was answered by one Rajeev Ranjan, the nightclub’s manager. Asked about the woman’s allegation, Ranjan flatly denied that any such incident had happened. “We welcome anyone and everyone into the club. We even host a ladies’ special night on Sundays when many women from northeast drop in. We do not indulge in such discrimination,” he asserted.

Bidhya, however, said that she had received a call from the club ‘apologising’ for the incident on October 21, which, she said, was proof enough that she had indeed been a victim of racial discrimination.