Rs. 25,000 fine for 5-star that billed actor Rahul Bose Rs. 442 for bananas

PTI, Jul 28, 2019, 12:25 PM IST

Chandigarh: The public relations nightmare for a five-star hotel in Chandigarh, peeled for trying to charge actor Rahul Bose Rs. 442 for two bananas, refuses to die down.

Tax authorities have fined JW Marriott Rs. 25,000 for violating regulation by collecting tax on an exempted item, news agency ANI reported on Saturday.

On Monday, Rahul Bose’s video complaint went viral on Twitter after he roasted the hotel for charging him Rs. 442 for two bananas.

“You have to see this to believe it. Who said fruit wasn’t harmful to your existence?” the 51-year-old Shaurya star said.

You have to see this to believe it. Who said fruit wasn’t harmful to your existence? Ask the wonderful folks at @JWMarriottChd #goingbananas #howtogetfitandgobroke #potassiumforkings pic.twitter.com/SNJvecHvZB

— Rahul Bose (@RahulBose1) July 22, 2019

The incident unleashed a wave of memes and jokes on Twitter with people sharing what soon came to be known as their “Rahul Bose Moments”.

Costliest set in a bollywood movie ever!#RahulBoseMoment pic.twitter.com/pFibjXrWcY

— Tanveer (@TweeTanveer) July 25, 2019

Rahul Bose checking out from Marriott, Chandigarh !!#RahulBoseMoment #rahulbose#viaFB pic.twitter.com/EhgTkqD36H

— Hema J (@Hema_quotes) July 25, 2019

Amid the disaster online, the Excise and Taxation Department in Chandigarh also visited the hotel and seized documents related to the sale.

Western Railway can take you at many tourist spots around the western zone of India. Travel easy with WR at an affordable price (approx. fare for Sleeper class). #RahulBoseMoment #WRKiSawari pic.twitter.com/El6iap7vpN

— Western Railway (@WesternRly) July 26, 2019

Protect your family from financial insecurity after you at the cost of 2 bananas and protect them from the lemons that life might give them.  #RahulBoseMoment #RahulBose pic.twitter.com/OszdmEuSPH

— Policybazaar (@policybazaar) July 25, 2019

JW Marriott is yet to comment on the episode. Rahul Bose, who was shooting for a film in Chandigarh, left for Amritsar the following day.

NDTV