IIT students claim cafe in Jodhpur said ‘Indians not allowed’. Owner responds to viral video

Screengrab from the viral video in which a staffer allegedly told the IIT students that Indians weren't allowed at the cafe. (Right) Guests enjoy a meal at the same cafe. (Image credit: The Indian Idiot/Instagram, Dylan Cafe)

A rooftop café in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur has come under fire after a group of IIT Jodhpur students alleged they were denied entry for being Indian. In a video that went viral across Instagram and Reddit, the students are heard questioning the café’s alleged owner over the phone, asking if they were being refused entry because of their nationality. The person, identified in the post as Bhakhar Khan, allegedly responded: “Only foreigners allowed, not Indians.”

The students, visibly shocked, repeatedly asked for clarification, but the person reportedly dismissed their concerns, saying it was the café’s policy and did not require further explanation.

The incident happened on September 30 outside Dylan Cafe in Gulab Sagar area. While the viral video triggered widespread criticism online, with many users accusing the establishment of discrimination, speaking to Moneycontrol, the cafe's actual owner Salim Khan denied the allegations and said the incident was misrepresented.

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Owner says staffer made comment ‘in heat of the moment’

“Around 3pm on September 20, a group of local youth including three to four IIT students and a few young women visited our café and asked for couple booths. We do not have a specific seating arrangement like that, ours is just a rooftop café,” Khan said.

He added that the altercation was about seating, and during the exchange, a staff member handling calls told the group that “only tourists were allowed.”

“It was said in the heat of the moment,” Khan clarified. “We’ve been running this business for nine years and welcome all guests — local and international. We also have a lodging facility and at the moment we have three Indian guests.”

Guests enjoy a meal at Dylan Cafe in Jodhpur. The cafe's owner Salim Khan asserted that they never discriminated against guests and that Indians, both locals and tourists, have always been welcome. (Image credit: Moneycontrol)

He also confirmed that the Jodhpur Police had also visited the cafe to investigate and following the incident the staffer in question has since been fired.

Social media reacts to alleged discrimination

The incident has sparked debate online, with many users expressing disbelief and anger over the alleged comment. While some called for a boycott of the café, others urged caution until the full context was confirmed.

"Anyone defending this should realise that during British India, there were many places which had a signboard that read : “dogs and Indians not allowed.” that was the level which the British kept us at, no one in independent nation can say that to an Indian. THIS CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED," wrote Instagram user Royal Sai (@theroyalsai_). Another user Lavanya Kukreti (@lavanya.kukretii) commented, "I also came across a cafe in Jaipur where only foreigners were allowed. And then we complain about restaurants in other countries not allowing Indians."

"This had happened to me too in a renowned coffee house in Mumbai," added Rituu Kocchar (ritz_kocchar). "They made me wait and let foreigners enter who had come after me.. when i questioned them they said they prefer to not make foreigners wait!!"