Camera seized at Surat’s K’s Charcoal, sparks concern among Ahmedabad’s elite circles

The restaurant revered among ‘elite’ groups of Ahmedabad, Surat, and Mumbai — K’s Charcoal has been embroiled in a controversy at its Surat outlet.

A major uproar erupted in Surat when an employee at K’s Charcoal Restaurant on Dumas Road allegedly placed a mobile phone in the women’s washroom and recorded videos. Police have arrested the employee and ordered the restaurant to remain closed until the investigation is completed. Since there is also a K’s Charcoal Restaurant on Sindhu Bhavan Road in Ahmedabad, people are now worried whether it will also be investigated.

The camera was busted in the women’s washroom of K’s Charcoal in Piplod, Surat. When a woman entered the ladies’ washroom, she noticed something unusual placed behind the metal mesh of the exhaust fan. On closer inspection, she found a mobile phone hidden there with its video recording turned on. The alert woman immediately informed the restaurant management.

Accused arrested

Umra police seized the mobile phone and arrested Surendra Bhuvneshwar Rana (age 30, resident of Shramjivi Society, near Passport Office, Umra), who was employed at the restaurant. Police found around five videos on his phone. He had been transferring the recordings from the hidden phone to another mobile. Investigations are underway to determine whether he shared these videos with anyone else.

Until the inquiry is completed, the hotel management has decided to temporarily shut down the restaurant. Following this incident in Surat, concern has spread among customers—especially women—visiting the K’s Charcoal restaurant on Sindhu Bhavan Road in Ahmedabad. People are wondering whether the police will conduct an inspection there as well.

The K’s Charcoal is a chain of restaurants owned by SMSR Hospitality LLP, with one of its partners being the well-known Gujarati motivational speaker Sanjay Raval. 

The restaurant management is yet to give an official statement regarding the incident.