Famous food safety officer P. Satheesh Kumar, who arrived at Hotel Bilal on Mount Road, Anna Salai, to inspect the premises following a severe case of food poisoning involving two women college students, reportedly suspended his inspection due to ‘health issues’. However, widespread reports suggest that he halted the sudden inspection after receiving a phone call.
சென்னை மவுண்ட் ரோடு பிலால் ஹோட்டலுக்கு ஆய்வுக்கு சென்றபோது திடீரென வந்த ஃபோன் கால்.. சட்டென ஆய்வை நடத்தாமல் அப்படியே திரும்பிய உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் சதீஷ்.. நடந்தது என்ன?#Chennai | #BilalHotel | #FoodSafetyOfficers | #Sathish | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/ipbzYKJWSM
— Polimer News (@polimernews) April 3, 2025
The inspection was initiated in response to a complaint filed at the Ice House police station. Meanwhile, another branch of Hotel Bilal in Triplicane was sealed on 2 April after six individuals were hospitalized due to food poisoning. Initially, officials stated that no complaints had been filed against the Mount Road branch. However, it later emerged that authorities had taken action against the restaurant after two college students fell ill following a family dinner there on 30 March. The students, suffering from severe vomiting and stomach pain, were admitted to Government Royapettah Hospital on 1 April, where they remain under treatment. In this regard, an inspection was scheduled for 4 April, and authorities arrived at the hotel. However, the inspection was abruptly halted, with health concerns cited as the reason for the inspecting officer’s withdrawal.
Food Safety Violations Lead To Closure Of Triplicane Branch
On 2 April 2025, a team led by P. Satheesh Kumar, alongside Chennai Corporation health officials, conducted an inspection of Hotel Bilal’s Triplicane branch. The restaurant was sealed after allegations surfaced that it had served spoiled food, resulting in a severe outbreak of food poisoning. Reports indicate that at least 20 people fell ill on 30 March after consuming beef biryani and beef rolls, with symptoms including vomiting and dysentery. The affected individuals were admitted to the Communicable Diseases Hospital in Tondiarpet for treatment.
The closure followed protests from customers and formal complaints filed by two of the victims at the Triplicane police station. Among those affected were V. Vignesh, M. Jaishankar, K. Shyam, K. Vivekanandan, A. Stephen, and S. Rebecca, who dined at the restaurant on the evening of March 30. By the next morning, all six experienced severe stomach pain and vomiting. Initially treated as outpatients at a private hospital, they were later transferred to CDH as their condition worsened.
Following a complaint from Vignesh’s parents, the Triplicane police have officially registered a case against the restaurant.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
