Kolkata Police (Lalbazar) has instructed all city police stations to hold meetings with hotel, lodge, and guest-house operators to ensure strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) for guest verification.
The move follows a recent case where New Market police filed an FIR against a hotel on Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road for failing to properly document the stay of four gangsters from Patna, including Tausif Raza—allegedly involved in the Paras Hospital shooting—and his cousin Nishu Khan. The group checked in on July 17 and later shifted to another hotel in Anandapur, which had earlier faced similar action for non-compliance.
This marks the second FIR in Kolkata within days against hotel managements for violating SOP norms related to guest identification and registration.
As per the SOP, each guest must submit valid ID proof at check-in, not just one per room. Hotels are required to email a daily guest list and scanned ID copies to local police by 10 PM, with late entries submitted the following day.
While larger and mid-budget hotels reportedly follow these norms, smaller establishments have often failed to comply fully, officials said.
source: TOI
