'Catering mafia of Railways': Passenger beaten up for objecting to paying Rs 20 extra for meal

Screenshots from the viral video that Railway officials claim is old. (Image credit: @theskindoctor13/X)

A video showing a passenger being beaten with sticks and belts inside a train compartment in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi has sparked outrage across social media platforms. The passenger, identified as Nihaal, was allegedly assaulted by catering staff aboard the Andaman Express after he objected to being charged Rs 130 for a vegetarian meal he claimed was actually priced at Rs 130.

In the short clip, which has gone viral, multiple men—allegedly part of the train’s catering team—can be seen thrashing Nihaal while other passengers attempt to intervene. The incident reportedly occurred near Jhansi Railway Station.

X user @TheSkinDoctor posted the clip with biting sarcasm: “A passenger named Nihaal crossed all lines of decency by objecting to being overcharged. The catering staff could have thrown him off the moving train but chose to only beat him peacefully with a belt and a few punches. A fine display of hospitality the Indian Railway catering is famous for.”

Jhansi, a passenger on the Andaman Express named Nihaal, crossed all lines of decency by objecting to being overcharged for food.

The catering staff could have thrown him off the moving train for such audacity, but being law-abiding citizens, they chose to only beat him… pic.twitter.com/2ibYjqc2VL — THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) November 5, 2025

“Catering Mafia of Indian Railways strike again,” wrote NCMIndia Council for Men Affairs, sharing the video on X. “A passenger was brutally beaten on the Andaman Express at Jhansi Railway Station after refusing to pay Rs 130 for a thali priced at Rs 110.”

'I made a mistake by taking the food': Passenger

Nihaal, a student, later told reporters that when he tried to file a complaint at the Bina Station Police Post, he was informed he would have to travel to Gwalior multiple times to appear in the case.

“I am a middle-class student. I couldn’t afford to do this again and again,” he said. “Now I apologise. I made a mistake by taking the food.”

His statement has drawn criticism from users who say passengers should not be forced to apologise for asserting their rights. “On Andaman Express, every question you ask about overcharging comes with a complementary punch or belt treatment,” one user wrote.

Railway officials deny incident, say video is old 

When India Today contacted, Jhansi Railway Division’s public relations officer Manoj Kumar declined to comment on camera, stating: “It has not yet come to the notice of me or our security agencies.”

The North Central Railway later issued a statement on X, claiming the video is not recent and is being circulated to mislead the public. “This is an old video being posted in an attempt to mislead people. No FIR has been filed regarding any incident of this type occurring in Jhansi or nearby areas. Please do not spread confusion by posting old videos,” the statement read.

Netizens demand accountability

Despite the Railway’s denial, calls for accountability continue to grow. Users have demanded strict regulation of catering services and protection for passengers who raise legitimate concerns.

"How dare he raise questions on the honesty of these staff members?" an X user commented sarcastically. "He should have kept his mouth shut and accepted it as we always do. Idiot Nihaal! So what people were charging extra money, so what there is now law and order? Right?"

Another user said, "On Andaman Express, every question you ask about overcharging comes with a complementary punch or belt treatment. And it has been happening in Indian Railways for quite some time now. Proper regulations must be put in place so that next time someone doesn't get flying belts instead of bills."

"Is this really the level of hospitality Indian Railways is known for?" asked a third. "A passenger objects to being overcharged for food and is beaten with a belt? This is outrageous! Railway authorities need to step in and ensure that such employees face serious consequences. The safety and respect of passengers should be paramount."